Rising crime during festivities shakes Bhubaneswar to its core

During the ongoing festive season, Bhubaneswar witnessed a murder, a loot, a gang rape and a bomb hurling incident, making the tall claims of the Commissionerate Police that enough measures are in place to ensure crime-free festivities seem hollow. 

In the latest, on Diwali night, some youths came from nowhere, hurled bombs and attacked whosoever came on their way near the Winner Association in Sahid Nagar. For some time, the location resembled a battlefield. Some youths celebrating Diwali by firing crackers were injured in the attack. Vehicles parked there were also targeted. 

“They were about 50 in number. Reaching the spot, they started hurling bombs. They were armed with swords. After hurling bombs, they started damaging the vehicles parked there,” said an eyewitness. 

Informing about the incident, DCP Pinak Mishra said, “Preliminary investigation reveals that a trivial matter is behind the incident. We have detained two for their involvement in the incident.”

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On the same Diwali night, the wife of a BSF jawan and her daughter were the targets of some miscreants. 

As per the report, they were returning from a relative’s house at around 9 pm. Some miscreants waylaid them at Madhusudannagar under Kharvel Nagar police limits attacked them and decamped from the spot with their ornaments. 

A case has been registered at Kharvela Nagar Police Station but the police’s hand is still empty. 

Similarly, some days ago, a shameful incident of a minor girl being gang-raped came to the fore. The miscreants had also made the video of the crime viral. In this connection, the police arrested five including a minor girl who happened to be a friend of the victim. All were produced in a court. 

In another shocking incident, Bharatpur Police arrested a person for murdering his wife by administering anaesthesia. The police also arrested three others for their involvement in the crime. 

“In connection with the gang rape incident, all the four accused have been arrested. They apart, the minor girl who was the friend of the victim has also been arrested and sent to a juvenile home,” said DCP Mishra.

“It is not safe for us to go out at night. They have even threatened me with dire consequences,” said Maheswata Satapathy, a victim.