Even though 24 hours have elapsed into the filing of a complaint by the Bhubaneswar Additional District Magistrate (ADM) regarding illegal sand quarrying from the Daya river, the Dhauli police instead of registering the FIR seem to have challenged the ADM’s report. ADM Abanikant Pattanaik on Thursday filed the complaint at the Dhauli police station maintaining that one Sanatan Swain of Nakhaur village of the Gopinathpur area under the Dhauli police station along with his other accomplices is lifting sand from the river left embankment at a distance of 1.5 km from the Daya bridge defying repeated instructions by the Revenue Inspector.
Though the ADM has asked the police to take appropriate action against the culprits to curb illegal lifting of minor mineral, the Dhauli police are yet to act over the complaint. Quoting Dhauli police station in-charge officer DK Sahoo, Dhauli sarpanch Rabi Maharana said, “No action will be taken on the complaint filed by the ADM. We will act if the local tehsildar files an FIR.” “The inaction of the Dhauli police exposes their nexus with the sand mafia. They are challenging the ADM’s FIR,” said the sarpanch, demanding suspension of the concerned police officials for not taking prompt action on the complaint.
The nexus between the Dhauli police and criminals is a well-known fact. Only last week, the IIC of the police station was caught red-handed by Vigilance police while taking bribe. Sarpanch Maharana said the police station would be gheraoed if no rigorous action is taken against the sand mafia at the earliest.