Rourkela: Rourkela will be free from drug peddlers by the end of this year, Rourkela SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said emphatically Wednesday during a one-on-one discussion. When questioned about the worrying rise in brown sugar peddling in the city, the SP said, “This is definitely present on the street. But, the department and my officers are certainly on it and we are keeping a close eye on the peddlers. Within the last two months, we have seized over 200 grams of the banned substance.” When he was probed further, he said, “I would like to say that Rourkela streets will be free of peddlers by December 31, this year. We have already arrested quite a few in the last two months and our drive against them is on. Soon a massive drive would be taken up to free Rourkela of the contraband peddlers. We will make the situation very tough for them.” Mostly the parks, which have been set up for recreation of the residents, have become a happy hunting ground for peddlers and consumers.
Their activities start once the regular visitors leave the parks after completing their rounds of physical activities. And the suitable time is after nine o’clock. “I prefer to leave the park once I see their numbers increasing. I can recognise them from their movements and then I feel unsafe to remain there,” said an elderly person to this reporter. Notably, media have been highlighting the misuse of the public parks in regular intervals. In the last couple of months, Rourkela police have arrested six persons for their alleged involvement in drug peddling. The latest being June 26 and July 23.
In the first case, the person was found in possession of more than 75 grams of brown sugar and in the second case, the arrested person, a known peddler, was involved in a sex scandal. Rourkela has witnessed a record number of transfers among officials of all ranks starting from the SDPO level. Speaking about this, the SP said, “This is a regular activity and anyone who has remained at a post for over two years will move out. And the Election Commission’s directive is to do that so this is happening across the state. And this transfer process will be completed by March end.” Citing his own posting, he said, “Even I have joined here after my transfer from Keonjhar to Rourkela. So, there is nothing new in the transfer process.” Answering another question, he said, “Intelligence gathering will not be hampered. That is a continuous process and will continue even if a new officer takes the post. They are trained for that.”