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Former Maoist-controlled forest area turns into cockfight gambling den

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Acting on intelligence reports of large-scale betting organized under the guise of traditional cockfights, officers cordoned off a forest site near Raiguda village under the Bhadrakali police station limits. The unexpected police arrival caused panic as participants attempted to flee, though officers managed to round up dozens of attendees. The event functioned as an interstate carnival complete with tents, music, and food, drawing punters from Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Described as one of the largest gambling busts in the Bastar region, the operation took place as local law enforcement intensified surveillance ahead of Diwali.

Key points

  • The raided venue operated as an interstate carnival with food, music, and tents to facili…: The raided venue operated as an interstate carnival with food, music, and tents to facilitate illegal betting.
  • Punters traveled from Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh to place wagers running…: Punters traveled from Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh to place wagers running into lakhs.
  • The raid represents one of the largest gambling busts executed by police within the Basta…: The raid represents one of the largest gambling busts executed by police within the Bastar region.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

RAIPUR: Tents, music, food and cars. Then came the roosters and the bets running into lakhs. Once a Maoist-controlled stretch of forest in Bastar, the remote terrain had acquired a different notoriety - an interstate cockfight gambling carnival attracting punters from across Chhattisgarh and neighbouring Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.Police busted the den near Raiguda village under Bhadrakali police station limits deep inside Bijapur district on Nov 3, catching 156 people and seizing more than Rs 20 lakh, 47 four-wheelers and 12 mobile phones.Acting on intelligence inputs about large-scale betting being organised under the cover of traditional cockfights, police cordoned off the forest site before moving in. The sudden arrival triggered panic, with several participants attempting to flee.

However, 156 people were rounded up.The crackdown, described as one of the biggest gambling busts in Bastar, came before Diwali, when police step up surveillance against illegal betting. These forests have traded the terror of gunfights for the frenzy of cockfights. The Maoists are gone, but a new battleground has taken their place, with lakhs riding on roosters battling to the death.

Rashmi…

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