Hotel Owner Approaches SP Against Police Harassment In Odisha’s Kandhamal

Phulbani: Frustrated by police harassment, a roadside hotel owner has approached the district SP of Odisha’s Kandhamal.

In a complaint submitted to Kandhamal SP Suvendu Kumar Patra on Friday, Subrat Kumar Sahu said he was running a hotel near Khajuripada check gate in the town. Though he was not involved in any illegal activities, the IIC of Khajuripada police station, Chapadahar Pradhan, had been harassing him and his staff, he added.

Alleging that the IIC was demanding monthly ‘chanda’ (extortion money) for the last few months, Sahu said he had been resisting the illegal demand. “On the night of April 17, the IIC conducted a raid on my hotel. After he did not find anything illegal, the police officer locked up my and my hotel staff in a room and beat us up mercilessly. He also threatened us of dire consequences,” said Sahu in the complaint.

Though Sahu and his family went to Khajuripada police station to file a complaint, it was not received by the personnel on duty. Finding no other way, he approached the SP to seek justice and action against the IIC.