Senior Congress leader and former Puri MlA Uma Ballav Rath on Tuesday said the police inefficiency in the pilgrim city has made life insecure for all.
“While crime graph is on an upward trend, law enforcement agencies in Puri seem to assume the role of silent spectators. Be it the heinous shoot out on Minister Mahaeswar Mohanty, or the triple murder case in a seaside hotel, or students go rampage damaging several vehicles, the police in Puri seems be groping in the dark always,’ Rath said.
Stating that a Minister is well protected by various means, including CID and Intelligence surveillances, Rath said the police disappointingly don’t suspect anybody in the Minister’s shootout case.
“What role the local police play when poor tourists are being consistently assaulted on the sea beach and inside the lord Jagannath Temple and the hooligans terrorize the locals at will,” Rath wanted to know.
Rath alleged that the police are completely ignoring the land grabber and builders’ racket that have been alienated and embittered by the activities of the Minister in dealing with valuable lands including the Matha and Deity lands in the area. He said chances of commercial enmity might have resulted in such awful incidence.
Today most of the law abiding citizens are living in a state of fear and apprehension. No one knows when he or she could become the prey of the anti-social elements loitering freely across the town and its peripherals, Rath said, adding that while loot, arson, rape, theft, and burglary have all gone up considerably in recent years, the police achievement in most of these cases has been a big blob.
Suggesting that efficient and honest officers be posted in the town soon, Rath said, “It is high time that the Chief Minister maintain his clean and transparent image in the State and revive the confidence of local people on law enforcement agency.”