BHUBANESWAR: The commissionerate police have asked police stations to act tough against those who are forcibly collecting donation (chanda) from people ahead of the festive season. The instruction came after some people took to the social media and urged the police to take action against those seeking forcible collection of chanda."I was heading towards VSS Nagar from Sainik School route when some youths blocked my car by standing in the middle of the road. They demanded chanda for September 13 Ganesh puja. When I refused to pay, they threatened to deflate my cars tyres," said Bishnu Mishra, a citizen.Mishra said the youths demanded a minimum Rs 300. "I paid Rs 100 and was then allowed to go," Mishra said. On the pretext of organising Ganesh Puja in their slum, the group of seven youths forcibly collected money from at least 20 persons. They left the place after seeing an approaching police control room (PCR) van. "I called up police after being forced to pay Rs 100. Strict action should be taken against the people," said Akhaya Das, a social activist.Public and goods transporters are the worst sufferers. "We bear the brunt during festive seasons like Ganesh Puja, Dussehra, Laxmi Puja and Kali Puja. Volunteers of different organisations would intercept our vehicles on the highway and forcibly demand money. There were instances where our staffers were assaulted for having refused to pay," said Debendra Sahoo, a member of Odisha Private Bus Operators' Association. Deputy commissioner of police Anup Kumar Sahoo said instructions have been given to inspectors-in-charge of police stations to register extortion case against persons resorting to forcible collection of money. "People should not fear for the chanda collectors. There will be zero tolerance towards the chanda seekers," Sahoo said.In September last year, some miscreants had attacked an official of a power distribution company at Burla in Sambalpur district for protesting against forcible collection of money for Ganesh Puja. Some hooligans misbehaved with a family in Nayapalli here during Ganesh immersion ceremony last year as the family had not paid chanda. Puja organisers said different anti-social groups become active during festive occasions."We never forcibly collect money. People, corporate offices and businessmen voluntarily donate. Police should take action against those who fleece people," said Kadam Mohanty, a puja committee member in Balianta.

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