TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: Presence of Crime Branch sleuths in the taluka on Tuesday turned matka bookies paperless and purely in a hi-tech mode accepting matka bids only over phone calls at least for a certain time period in Canacona.
According to sources, no matka bookie functioned openly on Tuesday, following warnings that the crime Branch sleuths could land them in trouble and were advised to exercise maximum restraint at-least for 10 days.
In fact, even before the matka bazaar, operating at nook and corner, especially at Chaudi town and other parts of the taluka opened for the day, words spread asking the bookies not to openly accept matka bids and particularly refrain from issuing Matka slips at least for 10 days or till the presence of crime sleuths, who are investigating into rape and murder of a fisherwoman.
Many bookies accordingly refrained from accepting the matka bids on Tuesday, disheartening several players, but it is learnt many bookies so as not to annoy their regular bidders reportedly took bids over phone without issuing matka slips.
It may be recalled that after government handed over the investigation of rape and murder of fisherwoman Vijaya Pagi, presence of Crime Branch personnel has increased manifold in the taluka, making it highly risky for any Matka bookie to openly continue with their trade.
