Death In Bhubaneswar Hotel: Excise Dept To Raid Bars, Punish Those Engaging Minor Girls

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the death of a girl student in a hotel room in Bhubaneswar, the Excise department has warned that  stringent action will be taken against the bar owners found employing minor girls.

According to sources, the Excise department has constituted a special squad and surprise raids will carried out at all the bars in Bhubaneswar to take action against those violating rules.

The special team has been formed as there are allegations that bars in the state capital are indulging in illegal activities. The squad will probe the allegations and find out if the bars have done any illegal act. If any violation is detected, strong action will be initiated against those involved, said an official.

In another development, the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) has expressed concern over the death of Subhalaxmi Sahu, a Plus II student, inside a hotel room on Cuttack-Puri road in Bhubaneswar.

After learning that the Subhalaxmi, a minor girl, was engaged at a bar, OSCPCR Chairperson Mandakinee Kar has sought a report from the Bhubaneswar DCP and directed the police to arrest the people who engage minor girls at bars.

Taking suo motu cognizance of the incident, the Commission has directed the DCP to submit post-mortem report and other documents within seven days. The police was also asked to arrest the main accused immediately.

Sahu had checked into the hotel on Cuttack-Puri Road on August 4 afternoon. Next day, she was found hanging with a dupatta inside the room. Police had said on Friday that her post-mortem report confirmed that she had committed suicide in the room of a hotel.