Spotlight on mutts, ashrams in city after arrest of Bihari criminals

Reported by Santosh Jagdev
Bhubaneswar, Aug 24:

Following the arrest of two hard-core criminals wanted by Bihar police staying in the Trahi Achyuta Ashram near Balakati on the city outskirts since long, from Old Station Bazaar under Laxmisagar police station in the Odisha capital on August 17, Commissionerate Police have decided to mount surveillance on such religious establishments.

Twin city Commissioner of Police (CP) Dr RP Sharma today directed all concerned Inspectors-in-charge (IICs) of the police stations in the Twin City (Bhubaneswar-Cuttack) to conduct a survey of all Mutts and Ashrams located under the police station jurisdiction.

In his order, the Commissioner asked the IICs to verify how much area the mutts and Ashrams have occupied, whether the land belongs to Government or any individual and the identity of the persons staying in these mutts and ashrams.

“If we find any of them involved in any illegal work, enquiry would be initiated against them,” said Dr Sharma.

Earlier police has asked the Ashram to furnish details of frequent visitors to the place.

Sources said that a number of inhabitants staying in the Achyuta Nagar colony located near the Balakati Ashram don’t hail from Odisha. Most of them belong to other states and have been living here since a long.

On August 17, Abhaya Kumar Saha (48) and Manjit Saha (39), two wanted criminals from Bihar who had been staying in Bhubaneswar for more than one decade, were arrested by the special task force of Bihar. The duo hailing from Waini area of Samastipur in Bihar was working as drivers of Ashram-run autos at Station Bazaar here to carry devotess between the Ashram and the railway Station.

Police said that the duo had been involved in as many as 41 cases – 36 cases, including six murder cases, pending against Abhay and nine cases, including three murder cases, pending against Manjeet – in different police stations of Bihar.