The people of Sambalpur are mostly peace-loving. It has got a good name and fame in the matter of discipline and civic sense.
But there are some individuals and particularly boozy youths who have done enough for breach of peace in the town and suburbs.
And the police administration has not been able to curb the menace, as is seen from the incident of a brutal murder during the Durga Puja immersion procession on Monday night.
The Tuesday’s murder apart, there was a severe stabbing in Dalaipara procession on Monday night.
Still, the local police didn’t become alert as per the need that ultimately led to next day murder, alleged the public.
In most of the times, the people here, on their past experience, have been demanding immersion of idols during day time since criminals take darkness as an added advantage during night to commit any crime.
The stabbing and murder in two consecutive days are just two examples of the current year.
“But most of the crimes have been committed during Ganesh Puja or Durga Puja procession earlier and police are yet to take it seriously,” alleged the senior citizens. Youths take it as an opportunity to take revenge on the opponents during the puja processions, they added.
Further, crime syndicates run by some influential persons of the city and some from outside are also encouraging such practice in the town for their vested interest and keep youths under their net for utilisation in different purposes.
“There must be specific rules for immersion of idols like Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. Any persons found in boozy condition in the procession must be arrested. At the same time, there shouldn’t be any night time procession,” suggested Sauri Narayan Panigrahi, a social worker of the city.
When contacted, the SP and the district Collector of Sambalpur said that basing on the current year’s experience things would be streamlined from the next year.
Meanwhile, protesting the murders of Vishal Khadia on Monday night, his relatives and the locals on Wednesday gheraoed Ainthapali police station demanding that all those involved be arrested soon.
“Basing on CCTV footage near the place of occurrence, we have arrested three persons so far,” said SP Sanjeev Arora. No one would be spared in this case, he clarified.