Haldwani, Oct. 17 -- In two separate operations targeting illegal gambling ahead of the Diwali festival, Nainital police arrested 12 people and seized a total of Rs.6.67 lakh in cash, officials said on Thursday. According to SP City (Haldwani) Prakash Chandra, a joint team of police and the Special Operations Group (SOG) conducted a raid on a forest area in Kotabagh, Kaladhungi, on Wednesday night. Eight people were found allegedly gambling; five were arrested on the spot, while three managed to escape. Police recovered Rs.5.66 lakh in cash and a deck of cards from the site. The arrested have been identified as Bennett Charan, Jaswant Singh, Naman Joshi (all residents of Haldwani), Hem Chandra Tiwari (Ramnagar), and Prem Chandra Agarwal (Kaladhungi). In a separate raid at an empty shop on Bindukhatta Car Road, Lalkuan, police apprehended seven people allegedly engaged in gambling. .htc...