Bhubaneswar, June 26: The administration has intensified its crackdown on criminals and illegal businesses operating in the state capital. In a major action, an illegal scrap warehouse allegedly linked to the theft of government property was demolished using bulldozers in the Shantinagar area under Kharvel Nagar police limits.
According to police, electric poles installed along both sides of Janpath Road, from Ram Mandir to IDBI Square, were stolen during the night of May 27. Following the theft, Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited Deputy Manager Siddheshwar Behera lodged a complaint at Kharvel Nagar Police Station, based on which a case was registered and an investigation was launched.
Using CCTV footage collected from different locations, police arrested five accused involved in the theft along with scrap dealer Sheikh Islam. During the investigation, it was found that Sheikh Islam and another scrap dealer, Sheikh Hamid, had allegedly been purchasing stolen electric poles, electric wires and other government materials from the thieves. The stolen goods were reportedly stored at the scrap warehouse before being sold for profit.
Police further revealed the involvement of Sheikh Anas, Sheikh Jaibur, Sheikh Zainal and Sheikh Rajesh of Shantinagar in the theft and illegal scrap business. All the accused have been arrested.
In a joint operation, the police and the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished the illegal scrap warehouse, which had been constructed on government land, as part of the administration's ongoing drive against encroachments and criminal activities.
