Berhampur/Cuttack: Despite Odisha Police’s strict stance against extortion, several were injured in two separate incidents at Berhampur and Nischintakoili after refusing to pay up.
In Berhampur, a brother-sister duo was attacked by miscreants after failing to pay the extortion money of Rs 10,000. Yesterday afternoon, five bike-borne miscreants approached Kalia Patra at his residence in Nrusingha Sahi under Badabazar police limits. They had been reportedly demanding Kalia to pay the amount for over a week.
Since Kalia is a small business owner he had told the goons that he will not be able to pay the money. First, he was allegedly threatened with a Mauser gun and then attacked with swords. His sister was also attacked as she had objected to the altercation.
The brother-sister duo has been admitted to MKCG Hospital and a probe underway.
In another incident of extortion going extreme, a woman and her two sons approached an electronic shop in Nischintakoili of Cuttack district. The shop’s CCTV captures them seemingly threatening the shop attendants and then ransacking the shop. After damaging laptops, desktops and mobile phone, they also took a smartphone with them.
Several employees of the shop sustained injuries in the attack. The Nischintakoili Police have begun a probe after the shop’s owner filed a complaint. One of the accused has been taken in police custody as per latest reports.
On October 17, Odisha Police DG Abhay emphasized on the need to maintain peace, especially during Durga Puja and also directed that stern action should be taken against people demanding ‘chanda’ and extortionists.
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