By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Jan. 22: Acting on special tipoff regarding online gambling, the Metropolitan Crime Division Wednesday raided three different houses in Kirtipur Municipality.
The division arrested a total of 12 individuals from the houses situated in three different wards – 6, 9 and 10 – in the municipality.
“We had received information and a special team was then deployed. The individuals have been organising gambling for the people in Europe and the United States,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Basanta Bahadur Kunwar.

According to a statement by the division on Thursday, gamblings were organised online through websites and applications like Juwa, Fire kiring, River sweeps, River monster and Vegas-X.
The investigation showed that the group organised gambling worth an average of 100,000 USD every month. The group had been active arranging online gambling for foreigners since the past 10 months.

“The employees used to work 24/7 in different shifts and were paid a decent salary. They used to approach foreigners through Facebook and lure them to gamble online,” said SSP Kunwar, who is also the chief of the division.

Among the arrested, the division’s statement showed that three – Manish Thapa, Samir Thapa and Rama Devi Shrestha – were 17-year-old and other three – Sahil Maharjan, Hanisha Maharjan and Binod Thagunna – were 19-year-old.

Likewise, Roja Maharjan, 20; Kabita Thapa, 27; Sujendra Thapa, 33; Rabin Khadka, 30; Buddha Maharjan, 45; and Pradip Man Singh Basnet, 35 were also arrested.
“Sujendra, Pradip Man and Buddha were the kingpin of the gambling business,” said SSP Kunwar.

The division also seized 17 mobile phones, 14 laptops, 2 sets of computers and three routers from the three houses. A register of gambling details and two white boards with gambling information were also found.

According to SSP Kunwar, online gambling and betting business has been rampant nowadays but none of the concerned authorities are equipped to tackle it online.
Likewise, the arrested juveniles are said to be provided with services as per the law as further investigation and legal process continued.