On Friday, 42-year-old Ravi Kishore publicly declared his commitment in the presence of his family members, submitting a bond letter at the Mantola police station pledging to abstain from gambling.He emphasised that if he were to falter, he welcomed legal repercussions. Ravi had spent time in jail due to his habit and chalked up huge debt. “I had been into gambling for over 20 years. With the support of the police, I now look forward to living a better life as a law-abiding citizen,” he said.
Ravi’s decision is not an isolated one; over a thousand registered offenders in Agra, previously engaged in illegal card games for quick profits, have similarly signed pledges to forsake their addiction.
Shejad, speaking alongside three friends at the Etmadullah police station, echoed similar sentiments and said, “Policemen called upon me and enquired about the well-being of my family. They motivated me to voluntarily take ought not to ever indulge in gambling. I am deeply moved by the friendly approach of the cops. I am a father of two minor kids and do not want them to pick up the bad influence.”
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, the Agra police commissioner said, “Gambling has been a multi-dimensional menace. It paves the way for public nuisance and violence following disputes over money transactions. The Lives of these people usually get trapped in debt bringing suffering to their family members. To overcome the hardship, habitual gamblers tend to land up in organised crimes.”
“Apart from the law violators, it is crucial to understand that gamblers are also the victim of an addiction. The initiative to make them take ought and tender a bond letter to quit gambling forever is aimed at giving them a dignified chance to reform. The officers have been directed to keep in touch with these people and ensure that they do not end up in darkness again,” said the officer adding. “These people will work as assets for us to knock down the gambling and betting network and strengthen our efforts to promote community policing,” said the officer.
Social activist Naresh Paras commended the Agra Police’s initiative as a significant step towards reformative justice. He noted that under the Public Gambling Act, 1867, offenders faced a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment but were eligible for immediate bail, leading to high rates of recidivism. Paras expressed confidence that the commissioner’s reformative measures would effectively address this issue.
