During an interaction with senior citizens of the town, Sambalpur Superintendent of Police Prateek Kumar Mohanty has assured them of timely police action for their safety and security.
A group of citizens, including former MP Sriballav Panigrahi (Congress), former MP Sanatan Bisi (BJD), social worker Kalpana Mishra, Ashok Bisi (CPI), senior lawyer Biranchi N Pati, president of Hirakhand Nagarik Parishad Bhakta Prasad Baoo and former president of Sambalpur District Bar Association Dr Pramod Rath met the SP and drew his attention to the deteriorating law and order situation in the town.
The SP said the police are keeping a close watch on the anti-social elements. Extra PCR vans would start moving round the city before the Puja from a centrally monitored control room. Besides, eight police teams would patrol all over the city round the clock by white bikes with special attention on the Ring Road. These teams would inform the nearest police stations about the activities of the criminals, bring the accident victims to hospitals and make the common people feel the presence of police all through day and night, Mohanty said. “Once the system is put in place, crimes will get reduced in the city considerably,” the SP hoped.
He further informed that the Satta business has been reduced remarkably in the city. He requested the citizens’ team to inform him about any antisocial activities in the city so that timely and preventive action could be taken.
Sriballav Panigrahi who headed the team informed the SP that the entire Ring Road on the Mahanadi has turned into a criminals’ den. All sorts of criminal activities including sale of unauthorised liquor, cough syrups, corex and hemp are going on unabated there. Panigrahi requested the SP to strengthen community policing.
In his reply, the SP said the Khetrarajpur police station would function in the newly-constructed building on the Ring Road very soon, after which antisocial activities on the road and the areas adjacent to it could be curbed significantly.