Puri, Dec 4: Authorities in Puri carried out a demolition operation on Thursday targeting the property of suspected drug peddler Sukanti Panda, located in Nilachakra Nagar. This marked the first bulldozer-driven demolition by Puri Police, following similar actions in Bhubaneswar. The property, which officials confirmed was built on encroached government land, was razed as part of the district’s ongoing anti-narcotics efforts.
Sources reported that the demolition began early in the morning, with bulldozers removing the structure under the supervision of police and enforcement teams. Authorities confirmed that Panda had constructed and operated the property illegally while allegedly being involved in the narcotics trade.
Panda, currently in jail, was arrested recently for reportedly selling 200 grams of brown sugar. The demolition operation was part of Operation Chakra, a district-wide crackdown aimed at making Puri "narcotics-free." The operation combines enforcement, surveillance, and actions against properties linked to repeat offenders.
Officials stated that the decision to demolish the structure came after verifying that it was built on government land. The operation was carried out after obtaining the necessary administrative approvals.
This is the first time Puri Police have used bulldozers in such an operation against a narcotics suspect, following similar bulldozer demolitions in Bhubaneswar targeting drug peddlers and illegal establishments. Police sources revealed that the objective of this move is to dismantle the operational bases of organised drug networks by targeting illegal structures used for narcotics-related activities.
Footage from the scene showed heavy machinery entering Nilachakra Nagar and demolishing the property under police protection. The district administration later confirmed that the operation was carried out without any resistance or law-and-order issues.
Authorities also mentioned that further verification of properties linked to narcotics suspects is ongoing, and additional actions may be taken based on land records and encroachment findings.
