After seven cases of death under suspicious conditions in Puri over last 10 days, the police cut a soory figure over safety of denizens, besides the tourists and guests during a peak season.
With the heinous killing of Sanjay Sahu on Tuesday in front of the Gundicha Temple, a sense of insecurity has prevailed in the city with people straightway pointing a finger to the police for laxity in dealing with the hardcore criminals.
With increasing extortion, ornament snatching and firings in the busy places, most residents prefer to stay indoors at sundown.
Since some bodies are yet to be unidentified by police, people suspect them to be outsiders who came to Puri for tourism purpose.
In particular, the hoteliers on the beach are in a dwindling state on security of guests, who have thronged in large numbers these days for holidaying.
They fear that the incidents would impact their profession. “Naturally there is fear in all sections after the horrible incidents on the holy land.
The law and order needs be maintained at any cost and culprits should not be spared for larger benefits of all people, including the outside guests,” said Talachha Nilakantha Mahapatra, director of a hotel on the beach.
“I saw for the first time that Puri is moving beyond control. If the criminal can fire bullets on a broad day light, kill people and freely escape, then naturally there is a question mark on the law and order under the existing establishment,” said Dr BC Mishra, a retired professor in Ayurvedic medicines. Dr Mishra added his concern over safety of girls and women during their marketing in the night.