Mahanga (Cuttack): Execution of lockdown imposed by the Government to effectively contain the spread of novel Coronavirus aka Covid-19 has been hit in Mahanga police station area in Cuttack district due to lack of adequate police personnel at a time when the infection is spreading its tentacles in rural areas of Odisha.
Social distancing is hardly being maintained in village areas in the absence of police patrolling. Even sell of banned intoxicants and gambling has been rampant in rural areas under the police station juridiction during the lockdown.
According to information, the Mahanga police station area bordering Jajpur and Kendrapara districts has only two police outposts for over two lakh people spread over 37 gram panchayats. While the police station has only six officers and 11 Constables against the requirement of 10 officers and 30 Constables, the two outposts located at Bhadreswhar and Kumuda Jayapur have one officer each and two and four Constables, respectively.
Though one section of Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) force consisting of eight jawans has been deployed to share the burden, there is still a shortage of security personnel to cover the entire police station jurisdiction to strictly execute the lockdown and Covid-19 guidelines.
In many places like Kusunupur and Bharatpada under Kurujanga gram panchayat, youngsters are seen playing cricket, card and organising feasts throwing an open challenge to the police.
Salipur SDPO Nimain Charan Sethi, however, said that security forces are being provided to Mahanga police station as per requirements.
Deployment of additional force in Mahanga should be considered at the highest level as the 21-day lockdown period has been extended till April 30, said a senior citizen.
