Burmese in Mizoram beaten up for gambling
October 13, 2007 - Three Burmese illegal migrants were caught and beaten up by a Mizo Village Defence Party for selling Thai lottery coupons in Aizawl, capital of Mizoram state in northeast India.
Thai lottery tickets (photo - www.thai.blog)
They were rounded up when they were selling coupons and waiting for their regular customers to bet on Thai lottery numbers (known as 'Che Thi' in Burmese) in a restaurant in Aizawl market at around noon today.
‘Che Thi' is a kind of gambling where people bet on the first three digits of the Thai lottery number that are announced twice a month. Many in poverty stricken Burma gamble overwhelmingly on 'Che Thi’.
The arrested Burmese were taken to the VDP office and later freed after they paid fine of Rs. 1,000 each.
"We were also beaten severely during interrogation in the VDP office," said one of the Burmese who was arrested by VDP members.
There are about 10 Burmese who sell coupons of the Thai lottery to the Burmese community in Aizawl, sources said.
A person can bet between Rs. 10 and 100. The winners get Rs. 5,500 if they bet Rs. 10.
The Mizoram police and VDP members picked up 14 Burmese for selling coupons of the Thai lottery on May 16 this year.
Some Burmese migrants in Mizoram illegally introduced the gambling over three or four years ago.
Most Burmese in Mizoram are getting fed up with the wide spread popularity of the Thai lottery as it only increases their difficulties when the income is low, said a Burmese in Aizawl. – Khonumthung.
