Daltonganj: Barwadeeh police in Latehar district arrested five alleged gamblers from neighbouring Palamu district on Tuesday and seized Rs 13,000 in gambling proceeds, police said.DSP Birender Ram said the accused were operating at Putu Wagarh, a remote spot along the Palamu-Latehar border, accessible after crossing a rain-fed river between Hutar in Palamu and Putu Wagarh in Barwadeeh.The arrested men were identified as Mahender Ram (31), Sonu Kumar (22), Makbul Ansari (28), and Pintu Bhuiyan (35), all residents of Hutar village under Ramgarh police station, and Mukesh Kumar Verma (31), of Bari village under Satbarwa police station.Police alleged the five were professional gamblers who lured youths into staking money and cheated them. Ram said their confessions indicated youths were being drawn into gambling.Sources said about a dozen youths near the site fled when police approached on Tuesday afternoon. Police suspect they were not merely spectators.Police seized 51 playing cards, five motorcycles and three mobile phones. The cash included nine Rs 500 notes, six Rs 200 notes and 73 Rs 100 notes.The accused were remanded in judicial custody under the Public Gambling Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
