Nayagarh: Smuggling and peddling brown sugar is a booming business in this district. And none but the police are being blamed for this.
It is learnt that brown sugar business is thriving in areas including the district headquarters, Itamati, Godipada, Khandapada, Sharankul and Gania. Itamati being a business hub in the district, brown sugar trade is flourishing here.
According to some local residents, the police are conducting raids but not able to put a check on this business. Sometimes the raids are conducted only to put up a show. And sometimes, the traders and peddlers are informed about the movement of the police well in advance. So the police have to return empty handed after raids.
These traders also outsmart the cops by not doing their business at a particular place for a long period. They keep on changing their locations.
What makes the situation worse is that they are reportedly providing brown sugar to the addicts even if they don’t have money. They keep some valuables in pawn and supply the contraband.
On the condition of anonymity, a trader admitted that the brown sugar business is doing well in Nayagarh district. When asked the reason, he said raids and checking are next to nothing here in the district.
“We are spending less and earning more. We are spending to spread our business and get security,” he said.
“We are carrying out our business without any fear from police or excise department because, we know they can’t afford to lose their handsome monthly earnings from us. Local residents are also not objecting to our business,” he added.
When contacted, Nayagarh town police station IIC Jayadeep Mohanty and Sharankul IIC Bimal Mallick said they are putting their best efforts to check brown sugar business.
“We are conducting raids from time to time,” he said.
Echoing the same, sub-inspector, excise mobile squad, Dhananjay Patra said they had raided a place at Sinduria Bank Chowk and seized 15 grams of brown sugar.
“Our raids will continue in coming days,” he added.
PNN