Puri: Expressing concern over the plight of Netherlands national who was allegedly robbed of his belongings by a taxi driver in Puri on January 25, the district administration has extended a helping hand to him.
Apart from assuring him of arranging a flight ticket to Nagpur, the administration has shifted the Netherlands national Anthony Van Arkel, who has been spending sleepless nights at a shelter home meant for beggars, to Panthaniwas.
District Public Relations Officer said, “Anthony will be provided all sorts of facilities at Panthaniwas. Besides, he will undergo medical tests before being sent to Nagpur in flight.”
Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) Pinak Mishra said, “Efforts are on to nab the accused taxi driver identified as Saroj Mallick who is absconding. Besides, the Dutch embassy has been intimated about the matter. We have already seized Mallick’s car. Police will investigate how the accused won the faith of Dutch tourist and kept him at his residence for 11 days here.”
Meanwhile, Anthony has thanked the media houses for highlighting his plight which made the district administration to take prompt action and shift him to Panthaniwas.
He is currently being lodged at Room no 105, Panthaniwas.
It is learnt that Anthony has lost 15 kg weight during his stay at Niladri Nilaya due to poor facilities.
Notably, Mallick won the confidence of Anthony after looting all his valuables and gave him shelter assuring him that he would help Anthony in finding out his valuables. Mallick kept Anthony at his Bhubaneswar-based residence for two days. Later, he brought Anthony to his residence at Baliapanda in Puri and kept him there for 11 days. Mallick later took Anthony to Delhi though he promised the latter to take him to Mumbai.
