VASCO: The Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) has demanded action against all gambling dens in Vasco following Tuesday’s raid on a local den. The council also urged the police not to target certain clubs, but to stop the operations of all without discrimination.
On Tuesday, Vasco police raided a five-star social club and caught ten gamblers red-handed. However, it neglected other clubs operating in the locality.
Speaking to reporters, MMC Chairperson Lavina D’Souza said, “I feel the Vasco police’s move was politically motivated. The same police that raided one club should have even raided other clubs in Vasco. It has surprised us all. Today not only gambling, but many other illegal activities are taking place. The police are turning a blind eye to them. As far as MMC is concerned, we don’t want illegal activities to take place in its jurisdiction.”
Other councillors sang a similar tune. Councillors Manish Arolkar and Saifullah Khan in a joint statement demanded that, “The police should not discriminate against any individual. If they are taking action then they should close down all clubs and not act against one. This makes us feel the police were working under some political directions.”
Meanwhile, former president of the five-star social club Arnold Rego threatened to approach the courts of law. He said that few people from Vasco had started maligning his and his councillor wife’s name through social media to gain an advantage in the forthcoming municipal election.
“Firstly, the club is run by ten members of the club and not by me. Secondly, some people are trying to use the opportunity to take benefit in the municipal elections. The raid was politically motivated. These people can use the information to malign our names in the town. We have decided to approach the court of law against the acts of such individuals,” said Rego.
