South Asia News

Man gambles daughter in card game in India

Sep 20, 2009, 10:44 GMT

New Delhi - A man in an eastern Indian state gave away his 18-year-old daughter to another gambler after losing in a game of cards, the Times of India reported Sunday.

Locals in a village in West Bengal said the man identified only as Ismail staked his daughter after he had already lost all his money.

'A desperate Ismail said he would continue playing and staked his daughter,' the report said, adding 'As luck would have it, Mustafa beat him again and walked away with the protesting girl'.

The village council informed local police about the incident, who have launched an investigation to trace the girl.

Family members said Ismail gambled frequently and was an alcoholic and they had thrown him out of the house after the incident.