Cricket betting in Andhra Pradesh is being held under the wraps with over 600 crores reportedly having changed hands in this IPL season. Though police have busted few cricket betting rackets, they are unable to control the mafia which is behind all these operations. Most of the youth who are falling prey to making money through gambling are in reality pulled into huge debt traps. Some of them are also committing suicides unable to repay the amount following pressure from betting rackets.
Recently, two youths from 75 Tyallur Village in Pedakurapadu Mandal of Guntur district, recorded a selfie video of them prior to taking the extreme step unable to repay the cricket betting money. The youths identified as Oora Suresh and Oora Komarayya reportedly consumed drinks laced with poison and telling their parents that they are helpless and it is all over. Though Suresh died, Komarayya is in a critical stage battling for his life at the Guntur Government Hospital.
Ruling party leaders backing betting racket?
Cricket betting rackets in Andhra Pradesh are mainly operating from Nellore, Guntur, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam (Vizag) and Rajahmundry. Some of these rackets are even flourishing due to political backing. Police are also being criticised for not being able to arrest those responsible for running these rackets due to the support of ruling party MLAs. Those who are backing these rackets are also being paid their dues. In other words, youth addicted to betting are simply ruining their precious lives.
