Bhubaneswar: Lens on anti-drug trafficking steps after peddler’s murder

BHUBANESWAR: The murder of a former drug addict-cum-peddler here on Friday has prompted police to relook their anti-drug trafficking initiatives in the city. Though enforcement drives are being conducted periodically, the peddlers continue to cock a snook at the police.
The police said P Subrat Rao, alias Chandu (35), was killed by a couple, who are brown sugar peddlers in Narayan slum under the Capital police station limits following a fallout between them over drug trading. The couple are on the run, the police added. “Rao used to peddle brown sugar in the slum and was himself an addict. He had criminal antecedents as he was arrested in some crimes in the past. He had enmity with the accused over the illegal business. He recently picked up a quarrel with the accused, who wanted to settle scores with him,” deputy commissioner of police Prateek Singh said. Police sources said Rao had allegedly been demanding extortion money from the accused, who were angry with him.
The incident left the commissionerate police on their toes as they took several initiatives to curb drug trading here.
Bhubaneswar: The murder of a former drug addict-cum-peddler here on Friday has prompted police to relook their anti-drug trafficking initiatives in the city. Though enforcement drives are being conducted periodically, the peddlers continue to cock a snook at the police.
The police said P Subrat Rao, alias Chandu (35), was killed by a couple, who are brown sugar peddlers in Narayan slum under the Capital police station limits following a fallout between them over drug trading. The couple are on the run, the police added. “Rao used to peddle brown sugar in the slum and was himself an addict. He had criminal antecedents as he was arrested in some crimes in the past. He had enmity with the accused over the illegal business. He recently picked up a quarrel with the accused, who wanted to settle scores with him,” deputy commissioner of police Prateek Singh said. Police sources said Rao had allegedly been demanding extortion money from the accused, who were angry with him.
The incident left the commissionerate police on their toes as they took several initiatives to curb drug trading here.