Police intensified crackdown against criminals before Puja

CUTTACK: To ensure peaceful Dussehra celebrations, the Commissionerate police have intensified crackdown against anti-socials in Cuttack.
At least 226 habitual offenders have been taken into preventive custody under Section 110 of CrPC by police in the city. Besides, notices have been issued to at least 1056 persons under Section 107 of CrPC.
According to police officials, persons with criminal record have been asked to execute an interim bond promising they would not disturb public peace in the police station concerned.Legal action will be initiated against those who fail to reply to the notices.
Meanwhile, police have arrested 2528 criminals in last six months against whom non-bailable warrants (NBW) were pending.
Atleast 1600 more NBWs are pending and police are trying to nab few more criminals before puja."Crackdown against habitual offenders, who create nuisance during the festival, is still on.
Elaborate measures have been put in place for smooth puja celebrations in the city," said Cuttack (DCP) Sanjeev Arora. Besides targeting habitual offenders, police are also dealing strictly with persons found drinking at public places and extortionists.
Atleast 385 excise cases have been lodged by police in last few months. Sources said the DCP has directed inspectors of concerned police station to expedite execution of pending NBWs. Alike previous years, this year also local youths will be appointed at special police officers and will help police in controlling traffic and managing crowd near the puja pandals.
Each Puja committee have been asked to provide names of five youths, who can efficiently play the role of SPOs. After Dussehra, these SPOs will be felicitated by police. After recent clash between two sahis (localities), police have prepared a list of at least 30 such violence prone areas and keeping close tab on the situation.