Baripada: Police don’t fare well when it comes to inspiring public trust in Baripada town, according to a report.
Law and order in the town is on the decline with a rise in drug peddling and other criminal activities. While antisocial elements throw open challenges, the police are yet to come up with any effective strategy to curb the menace, it was learnt.
On the other hand, several social organisations alleged this is the outcome of a police-criminal nexus. Instead of pulling up their shocks to check the crime rate, the police prefer to maintain silence over the issue, they added.
Two days ago, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) activists had taken out a rally alleging direct involvement of police officials in drug-peddling cases. The party has called Baripada bandh April 19 over the issue.
Apart from JMM, the ruling BJD also didn’t spare the police saying the cases of drug abuse are shooting up in the town due to inefficiency of the department.
Supporting the allegation of the party, scores of students took out a candle light march from Ambika Temple to Jagannath Temple.
The rally was in protest against a minor girl’s rape inside a Jagannath temple Friday. While such protest rallies have no impact on the police, locals are set to stage more demonstrations against the police inaction in coming days, it was learnt.
Meanwhile, JMM activists met collector Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, SP R Prakash and excise superintendent Sriharsha Swain demanding measures to check drug-peddling in the town.
They would stage stir in front of the offices of SP and excise department if the situation doesn’t improve after the April 19 bandh, JMM’s district youth president Pintu Maity said.
Earlier, the drug abuse cases were significantly low but a top police officer encouraged drug peddlers and the trade is flourishing in the town, he added.
When quizzed over the matter, ASP Dinjan Nayak said the police have kept an eye on the situation. The drug peddlers would be arrested soon, he added. PNN
