DHENKANAL: With most of the police personnel sent to Puri for Rath Yatra, the district has witnessed a spurt in criminal activities. A sense of insecurity prevails among the locals as the movement of criminals is going unchecked and police patrolling turning irregular.
According to official sources, a group of miscreants entered the residence of Dr Rajesh Kumar Mohapatra in Bhagirathi Vihar under Town police limits on Sunday last. They broke open three almirahs and decamped with gold ornaments worth `16 lakhs. Mohapatra had informed SP Manoranjan Mohanty and lodged a complaint with Town police in this regard.
In another incident, a group of armed persons chased Silvani Green Energy officials who were going in a vehicle after withdrawing ` five lakhs from Axis Bank in Dhenkanal. The miscreants stopped the vehicle on the National Highway and snatched the money bag. They even attacked the officials with sharp weapons. The officials were on their way to company premises under Motanga police limits with the money meant for salary of employees.
In a separate incident, miscreants assaulted one businessman and looted `1.35 lakhs from him at Kaunirapal Square under Sadar police limits.
A couple of days before this incident, a group of miscreants broke into a house in Town Planning Colony and decamped with gold ornaments and `15000 in cash. They are yet to be traced.
Police sources said the district now has a thin attendance of police personnel as most of them have been deployed in Puri for Rath Yatra. This apart, police vehicles and essential arms and security instruments have been sent to Puri.
SP Manoranjan Mohanty admitted that the crime graph is on rise. “We are vigilant and are keeping track of the criminals. The situation will improve after officials return from Puri,” he said.
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