155 bars, pubs raided in Bhubaneswar; two detained for attack on excise officials

As many as 155 bars, pubs, clubs and beer parlours were raided across Bhubaneswar during a late-night enforcement drive by the Excise Department, during which an excise officer was allegedly assaulted at a bar under the Chandrasekharpur police station limits.

Following the incident, police detained two persons in connection with the attack.

Sources reported that the raids were carried out on Saturday night following inputs that several establishments were operating beyond permitted hours and violating licensing and safety norms.

During an inspection at a bar in the Chandrasekharpur area, a group of individuals allegedly opposed the raid and attacked excise personnel despite the officer being in uniform. The inspection was reportedly obstructed before the situation escalated into a physical assault.

A complaint was subsequently lodged at Chandrasekharpur police station. Police confirmed that two persons have been detained and questioned in connection with the incident, while efforts are underway to identify others who may have been involved.

Widespread Checks Across Bhubaneswar

Reports stated that coordinated teams conducted checks across Bhubaneswar, covering 155 establishments in total.

The inspections focused on compliance with operating hours, licence conditions and other mandatory provisions under excise regulations. Several outlets were found to be operating late into the night and violating prescribed norms, prompting action under relevant sections.

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Recent Fire Incident Prompts Checks

The intensified checks follow recent safety concerns after a major fire broke out at a bar in Bhubaneswar’s Satya Vihar area on Friday morning.

According to Chief Fire Officer Ramesh Majhi, the Fire Services control room received the alert at 8:50 am, after which two fire tenders were deployed. Firefighters reached the spot by 9:15 am and brought the blaze under control after nearly an hour.