STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: In the guise of lotteries of other states, gambling, popularly known as 'double-digit', has hooked a large number of people in lower Assam. Many families addicted to double-digit gambling in the state are on the red.
Though the State government has banned the lotteries of other states in Assam, agents continue to sell lottery tickets in the state under the very nose of the administration. Riding on that leniency on the part of the administration in Assam, a section of miscreants is running double-digit lottery dens in lower Assam in a big way.
According to sources, masterminds of the double-digit gambling control the entire network in Assam from Siliguri with their mafia links in Barpeta Road and Guwahati. The mafias engage agents at various places in lower Assam. The agents sell the last 'two digits' of multi-digit lottery tickets to people at the returns of Rs 600 for Rs 10 if the last two digits of the tickets coincide in a draw.
Double-digit gambling draws thrice daily – at noon, in the evening and at night.
People addicted to this form of gambling often go bankrupt, creating a pathetic situation for their families.
Lottery tickets from other states have prize money amounting to crores of rupees. Double-digit gambling earns crores of rupees from the state every day.
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