Chennai: Tamil Nadu Police have constituted special teams, led by Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) and Assistant Commissioners, to secretly monitor personnel suspected of involvement in online gambling.
The move follows reports that more than 17 people in the state have died by suicide after losing large sums to online gambling. Recently, a 27-year-old policeman, Viswanath, died by suicide in Chennai’s Parangimalai.
According to police officials, DGP Mahesh Kumar Agarwal was informed that police personnel in the 25–35 age group were increasingly getting drawn into online gambling. Officials said armed reserve personnel were found to be among those most affected.
As part of the response, restrictions have been imposed on unnecessary mobile phone use at workplaces. The monitoring responsibility has been assigned to DSPs, who have formed teams across the state and have been instructed to submit weekly reports to the DGP’s office.
