Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 23: While Bhubaneswar is seen as one of the fastest-growing cities, the heightened activities are also leading to an increased influx of criminals from other parts of the state. Most anti-social elements using the capital as their new launch-pad are from the districts of Nayagarh, Cuttack and Berhampur, police sources say.
Anti-social elements coming from Nayagarh to Bhubaneswar are using Salia Sahi as their main hideout. Those landing here from Berhampur are mostly those who are hounded by the cops there under the arms act. “Hardened criminals from Berhampur target businessmen from that region who are doing business here. They demand extortion money, by holding out threats against them as also their families staying in the southern city,” the sources said.
Police sources are apprehensive of the future when the Rasulgarh flyover opens for traffic. “Criminals will very easily enter the city through the Rasulgarh flyover, and it will directly land them at Baramunda,” they say. As of now, the Commissionerate Police has a quick action team (QAT) to deal with such crimes. In recent times, it has busted several such gangs coming to the city from other parts of the state. QAT and the Chandrasekharpur police foiled a dacoity bid by arresting four criminals from behind Chandrasekharpur Kanyashram March 17, 2015. Police conducted raid at the Kanyashram and arrested Jagannath Sahoo (32) of Cuttack, Himanshu Swain (24), Sk Manuar (25), and Gurucharan Patra (27), hailing from Jagatpur.
In December, QAT nabbed six dacoits and seized firearms from their possession while they were planning to commit a dacoity near Gangua bridge area. On a tip-off, QAT with help from the Lingaraj police raided a place near the Gangua bridge on NH-203 and apprehended some criminals.
The criminals were Kedarnath Tarasia alias Kuna of Baramba in Cuttack district, Laxman Pradhan of Rahangiria in Puri district, Pramod Kumar Mohanty alias Peta of Damodarapur in Chandanpur area, Pathani of Raghunathpur in Nayagarh district, Sadashib Pradhan alias Ata from Dashabidharpur of Satyabadi area and Ghanashyama Maharana alias Ghana of Samukasahi in Nayagarh district.
In September, 2014, Commissionerate Police arrested two persons on charges of illegal possession of firearm from Kalinga Nagar under Tamando police limits. Police seized a 9mm semi-automatic pistol from the possession of Sunil Nayak (18) and Santosh Nayak (19), of Narendrapur in Nayagarh.
QAT officials have exuded confidence they won’t allow anti-social elements from other parts of the state to enter the capital city. However, retired IPS officer KM Deo said as long as there was a shortage of manpower, patrolling won’t be rock-solid. “Crimes can be brought under control if the patrolling system is strengthened.”
