Bhubaneswar, Dec 15: Four persons were arrested after Excise Department officials were allegedly attacked during a raid at a bar in Bhubaneswar's Chandrasekharpur area.

According to police reports, the arrests were made by the Chandrasekharpur police following a complaint filed by the Excise Department.

During the raid, miscreants reportedly threw beer bottles at the Excise vehicle and poured beer on the officials, preventing them from carrying out their duties. The incident occurred as part of a city-wide enforcement drive by the Excise Department, which conducted raids on over 30 bars in Bhubaneswar to ensure compliance with legal regulations, including the timely closure.

The crackdown was initiated in the wake of a major fire at a restaurant in the Satya Vihar area on December 12, which was found to be operating a bar without a valid license. Investigations revealed that the restaurant was illegally selling alcohol, prompting the Excise Department to intensify its operations across the city.