Bhadrak: The district which is known for its rich art and culture has now become notorious for counterfeit products, including fake currency notes, cow trafficking, coal pilferage, snatchings and robberies among others.
Locals allege failure of the police administration for Bhadrak becoming a vice den.
Everyday thousands of litres of liquor are allegedly smuggled into this district from neighbouring Balasore district. As a result, the administration is not only losing a lot of revenues but people are also paying with their lives. Illegal liquor trade has claimed ten lives in Chandbali constituency last month.
Police are yet to put the main culprit of the hooch tragedy behind bars. That the spurious country made foreign liquor is reportedly selling at a higher price than the original one raises many questions about the role of the Excise Department.
Meanwhile, Bhadrak has earned the moniker ‘brown sugar hub’. While women are said to be the villain of the piece, some specific drug gangs are thriving in cahoots with lower rung policemen. Brown sugar trade is going on with impunity at Charampa, Station Road, Bant Square bus stand, Women’s College Road and Old Town area.
The Old Town has recently become a hub of fake products. This area has already gained notoriety for the sale and manufacturing of fake products. Spurious products like pan masala, gutkha, infant food, chocolates of branded companies are being smuggled out to different areas in the state from here. It is alleged that even police or supply department officials hesitate to conduct raids in this area.
Nevertheless, so far, the police have raided seven fake pan masala factories and arrested 12 persons for their involvement in making phony products. But the mastermind is on the lam, it is learnt.
Over 20 illegal saw mills also operate in this district. Ten out of those 20 mills are running clandestinely in Bhadrak town alone. Running of so many illegal saw mills at the district headquarters points finger to the apathy of the forest and police department. Everyday wooden planks are smuggled into the town.
Bhadrak district is also becoming a hub of illegal coal business. Coal thieves here are notorious for the way they steal coal from moving trains on Dhamra rail line. From children to elders of the villages near the railway line are said to have been involved in coal pilferage.
A police case registered against a high level security officer shows the volume of illegal coal business that is going on. Even though the police and the district administration have been requested to take steps to curb all such illegal activities, nothing has happened so far.
When contacted, Collector GyanRanjan Das said, “The administration is aware of these illegal activities. Raids are being carried out.”
Sub Divisional Police officer (SDPO) Jalandhar Jali said that the police are conducting raids and arresting criminals. “But the situation will be the same as long as the people are not aware of their roles in shaping the society,” he added.
PNN