Over 100 criminals rounded up in Odisha for peaceful Durga Puja

Bhubaneswar: In order to ensure that the ongoing festive season goes off peaceful and incident free, as many as 244 platoons of security personnel have been deployed across Odisha.

The forces include 140 platoons of OSAP, 81 platoons of IRB, 23 platoons of OISF, three platoons of OSAF and two companies of CRPF requisitioned from the Centre of which as many as 98 platoons of security personnel have been deployed in the twin city of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar alone, informed DGP Dr R P Sharma at press meet here today.

“Keeping in mind Durga Puja festival and other festivals including Muharram observed by our Muslim brethren, three platoons of recently constituted Odisha Swift Action Force (OSAF) and two companies of CRPF which will be arriving soon will be also deployed,” the DGP pointed out.

“SPs and DSPs have been asked to discuss with local peace committees etc. and fix different timings for immersion of Durga idols and Muharram processions to maintain law and order and avoid occurrence of any untoward incident as well,” he added.

Sharma said in order to contain criminal activities during the Pujas special drives have been undertaken and 1,068 habitual offenders have been identified while 112 habitual offenders have been arrested under section 110 of the CrPC.

A total of 42 cases of extortion have been registered and 21 persons have been arrested in this connection, he added.

The DGP while lauding Ganjam police to have done an excellent job during the special drive said that Sambalpur, Bolangir and Angul have also done well.

“During special drives as many as 1145 cases have been registered and 978 persons have been arrested. 20,690 litres of country liquor and 5,420 bottles of IMFL have been seized. That apart, 1,113 kg of ganja has been seized and nine persons have been arrested. 763 persons have been arrested during raids at gambling dens and Rs 6, 44,500 has been seized from them. A sum of Rs 17,500 has been collected as fine for traffic violations under the MV Act. In addition to that RTOs have been asked to cancel driving licences of 938 persons for not having proper documents,” the DGP elaborated.