Families protest lottery trade to mend gambler patriarchs

Srinagar: Police on Wednesday baton-charged the alleged gamblers’ family members who came to protest at the Mecca Market here against lottery vendors.
As per a vendor, several members of the families, especially women, came to the market and started raising slogans against the lottery vendors.
“The families had come from Parimpora and Qamarwari. Most among them were women, who were saying that they have been living miserably because their husbands spend a lot on purchasing lottery tickets and in gambling,” he said.
He said a tourist was also injured in police action on the protesters.
“The family members said the place has become a safe haven for the gamblers,” he said.
A lottery vendor said they have been doing their job legally.
“No such incident has happened. It is just propaganda against us. Our job is legal. We pay taxes,” he said, adding that their collective daily turnout is between Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000.
“We are around 200 people associated with this trade. We have been sitting idle for the last three months, but now our business has picked up,” he said.
“Actually, the other vendors were protesting against our stay in the Mecca Market. They say their customers feel harassed when police visits to enquire about our trade. But we have all the documents to prove legality of our trade.”
Superintendent of Police, City East, Dawood Ayoub, said the women had come to them as well.
“When I joined, many women approached me as well, asking me to stop the lottery business to protect their families from its negative fallout,” he said.
Dawood said they have arrested 40 persons and arrested two more on Thursday.
“We have installed CCTV cameras. Each and every activity is being keeping an eye on,” he said.
“We have been on the job for the last so many months, and have closed down the lottery shops and seized some articles. It is not legal in J&K,” he said.