Jammu Rural Police Bust Organized Gambling Racket at Sidhra Hotel; Seven Arrested

JAMMU January 28, 2026:- In a major strike against petty organized crime, the Jammu (Rural) Police successfully dismantled an illegal gambling syndicate operating out of a local hotel in the Sidhra area.

Acting on precise intelligence, a specialized police team led by PSI Neeraj Parihar, In-charge Police Post (ICPP) Sidhra, under the jurisdiction of Police Station Nagrota, conducted a surprise raid on Room No. 105 of the Sunshine Hotel.

During the operation, authorities caught six individuals red-handed while they were engaged in illegal gambling for monetary gain.The arrested persons have been identified as Zulfkar Rashid Malik of Gujjar Nagar, Jammu; Manzoor Ahmed of Bijbehara, Anantnag; Bilal Ahmed of Ganderbal (currently residing in Bantalab); Abdul Majeed Lone of Kupwara; and Ashiq Hussain Bhat of Srinagar.

Additionally, the police apprehended a hotel worker, Naseer Ahmed from Baramulla, who was allegedly facilitating the illicit activity. During the search, officers seized stake money totaling ₹34,950, along with playing cards, gambling chips, and other incriminating materials used in the racket.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the group, in collusion with the hotel staff, intentionally organized these sessions for wrongful financial gain. Following the raid, a formal case has been registered under FIR No. 21/2026 citing Section 112(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station Nagrota.

All seven accused are currently in custody, and a deeper investigation is underway to determine if the hotel management or other individuals were involved in providing a safe haven for such criminal activities.