Alleged gambling ring under guise of boat race triggers outrage in Assam's Dhubri

A four-day boat race in Assam’s Fakirganj area has come under intense scrutiny after allegations surfaced that the event has been used to run a large illegal gambling operation, raising serious questions about policing and local oversight.

 

Footage circulating on social media shows groups of men engaged in high-stakes betting inside a makeshift shed at Chalakura Gosai Dubi Gram Panchayat, where the race was officially permitted. Local accounts suggest that what was billed as a cultural sporting event had “turned into a hub for gambling,” with substantial sums reportedly exchanged under the cover of festivities.

 

Residents and sources familiar with the situation have pointed to Tamez Uddin Mondal as the alleged organiser of the setup, claiming he enabled professional gamblers to operate openly while relying on the event permit as a layer of protection.

 

The controversy has escalated further due to claims of police complicity. Community members allege that the Officer-in-Charge of Fakirganj Police Station may have provided tacit support to the operation. Some locals have gone as far as suggesting that the OC is “in the pocket” of Mondal, a charge that has fuelled public anger.

 

Questions are now being raised about whether law enforcement ignored clear violations. “Have they forgotten their duty?” one resident asked, echoing a broader sentiment that authorities failed to act despite visible evidence.

 

Senior officials of the South Salmara-Mankachar district police have not yet issued a formal response to the allegations or the authenticity of the footage. Calls for an immediate, impartial investigation continue to grow as residents demand accountability and a clearer explanation of how the alleged gambling network operated so openly during a publicly sanctioned event.