Rs 3.82 lakh recovered from 107 gamblers in Lavi fair

MANALI: The historical Lavi fair of Rampur Bushahr, which is infamous for gambling, couldn't bring luck for most of the gamblers this year as police booked 107 persons under the Gambling Act and recovered Rs 3.82 lakh from their possession.
Police had formed special teams to raid villages near fair venue and registered 18 cases from November 8 onwards. Lavi fair is celebrated by people of Shimla, Kinnaur and Kullu between November 11 and 14.Gamblers from Himachal and other states start thronging here few days before beginning of the fair and try their luck in gambling till the end of the fair.
A police official from Brow said dozens of gambling cases are registered by both Shimla and Kullu police every year as people from distant places come for big games during Lavi fair. "Villages in Kullu district near the Lavi venue do not have hotels or guest houses, so gamblers book rooms in domestic houses. Based on secret information, police raid these houses and arrest the gamblers," he said.
State government is upset that the gamblers are bringing notoriety to this historical event which is famous for trade of horses, woollens, dry fruits, agricultural goods and kala zira, apart from cultural and traditional programmes. Kullu superintendent of police Surender Verma said all efforts are being made to stop this malpractice during Lavi fair. "Police have registered 18 cases under Gambling Act in Brow since November 8 and seized Rs 3.82 lakh from gamblers," he said.
Police claim that the trend of gambling in Lavi fair is on decline now but number of cases registered is increasing due to frequent raids by police.