Asish Mehta
post news network
Bhubaneswar, June 28: Every citizen has a right to approach the police whenever there is a threat. However, a petty businessmen in the city has to pay a price to get protection from the cops.
A man who runs a betel shop at Rasulgarh alleged the PCR vehicle officials often come to his cabin and take a couple of things without making full payment.
“The PCR vehicle officials often come to my shop at night. They take a couple of things including gutka, from my shop and don’t make the full payment,” the man, a native of Berhampur, said.
“PCR vehicle (OR-02-BT-8958) officials reached my shop June 24 night and took away a few mosquito coils for free. I don’t ask for payment as I expect them to help me when some locals harass me,” he added.
Another tea stall owner in Nayapalli area said he used to sleep in his shop at night fearing thefts, but the PCR vehicle officials keep bothering him in a ‘drunken’ state.
“The PCR vehicle officials used to come and bang my shop door. They disturb me on a regular basis after midnight. Though they pay for things they take, their act is annoying. Now, I have stopped sleeping in my shop,” he added.
Earlier, some street vendors in Khandagiri had alleged that during an evacuation drive by BMC officials in the area, the PCR cops had come to their make-shift shops and taken away several kilograms of fish from them without paying anything.
