KASUR, Feb 22: Kasur police arrested five alleged cricket bookies in Rara Gujjran on Tuesday and recovered phone sets, computers, TV sets and recorders from them.

Police said that after a tip off, they raided the house of Bilal Ahmed and arrested the bookies. Dawn learnt the first information report includes the names of 70 match gamblers, including a few women. Police, however, refused to share details with the media. Dawn

It is the first incident of arrests of bookies in the city after the start of ICC World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh three days ago. Police have yet to arrest other bookies which are also part of this wide network, has learnt.

An official said influential bookies were doing their business under the nose of police in Bazaar Sarafan, Khara Road, Dalgran Bazaar, Kot Murad Khan, Kot Rukun Din and Pakeeza Colony. He said the actual bookies were 10 while their agents were more than 500. He said most of the business was done through cell phones.