Odisha: 13 held for forceful collection of puja donation

Bhubaneswar: As many as 13 persons have been arrested in Odisha for allegedly collecting (chanda) for puja forcefully during the festival season, official sources said.

A total of five cases have been registered in this connection at various police stations in four districts.

It includes two cases at the Chandili police station in Rayagada district with seven arrests, one case at the Khandagiri police station in Bhubaneswar with one arrest, one case at the Hemagiri police station in Sundargarh district with four arrests and one case at the Kamakhyanagar police station in Dhenkanal district with one arrest, sources added.

Director General of Police (DGP) Bijay Kumar Sharma had directed district SPs to take stringent action against persons committing the offence.