Director-General of Police KB Singh on Saturday issued instructions to all the police stations, district SPs and Range IGs to take stringent action against people forcibly collecting subscriptions for festivals.
Twin-city Police Commissioner YB Khurania also warned of action against anyone found to be collecting subscriptions illegally in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
Meanwhile, the Private Bus Owners’ Association said if they are not provided adequate security, they would stop plying their vehicles during the festive season.
Association treasurer Barada Acharya said that during the festive season, after every few kilometers their vehicles are stopped and subscription is collected forcibly and they have to shell out thousands of rupees. If police do not provide protection, they would stop plying buses on the routes in which subscriptions are extorted.