Satya Mohanty, secretary of the association, said after the Orissa High Court’s order, the Commissionerate Police had granted license for operation to five dance bars in 2015-16, but with one-year-validity.
"We moved to renew our license on multiple occasions in 2017, but the excise department did not listen to us. Later, police ordered to ensure an NOC on fire safety and we did it. Many other aspects like security, safety and dignity of bar girls, their identification and willingness for the job were also reviewed regularly but even after fulfilling all parameters, our licenses were not renewed," alleged Mohanty.
He further said, “At district level the process of renewal should take a few days but if we are intentionally prohibited from the getting our license renewed, what can we do. The latest police raids on bars have pushed the livelihood of the hundreds of staffs here into uncertainty."
“It is being said that dancing in bar is immoral but we have never faced any such situation which harmed our dignity. In fact, we work with full willingness and respect. If the government wants to shut down dance bars, it must give us other forms of employment,” said a bar dancer.
On August 18, Commissionerate Police raided and sealed two dance bars operating without license in the city and rescued 10 girls.
Acting on a tip off, a team of the Commissionerate Police raided a dance bar on Cuttack Road in Bhubaneswar on charges of operating and employing bar girls without necessary license.
Cops also rescued 10 bar girls and detained its owner. Upon interrogation, the bar owner could not show necessary approvals for employing bar girls, informed sources.
Bhubaneswar DCP Anup Sahu said that the Excise Department will be apprised on the matter and accordingly they will take action to forfeit the license of the bar.
Earlier this year on January 7, the Commissionerate Police had conducted surprise raids on as many as eight dance bars for operating without licenses.
Also Read: Odisha police ADG’s daughter ‘slapped’ by traffic constable
It is to be noted that as per the guidelines issued in October 2016, that bars employing girls should obtain the approval of the State Excise department and police will check whether the rules laid down in the bar licenses are being strictly followed or not by surprise raids.