Chhatarpur SDPO conducts late-night raids at hotels, dhabas in Palamu
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Daltonganj, September 8: Chhatarpur SDPO Prashant Kumar conducted surprise late-night raids at hotels and dhabas across the Chhatarpur…
Chhatarpur SDPO Prashant Kumar conducts a late-night inspection at a dhaba in Palamu.
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, September 8: Chhatarpur SDPO Prashant Kumar conducted surprise late-night raids at hotels and dhabas across the Chhatarpur police subdivision, in an operation aimed at checking illicit liquor trade and keeping a watch on suspected criminal and anti-social activities.
The raids, which continued until around 1 am on Tuesday, reportedly created a stir among hotel and dhaba operators in the area.
Police focus on guest records, liquor trade
According to sources, the SDPO’s primary focus during the checks was not merely on hotel check-ins and check-outs but on whether establishments were maintaining proper and legitimate entries in their visitors’ registers.
During the raids, police recovered 30 bottles of wine and informed excise officials about the seizure.
Speaking to The Jharkhand Story Network, Prashant Kumar said police found men and women staying at some establishments with proper identification and check-in documents.
“They were adults and knew each other well. Their consent to check in together was free from any external factor,” he said, adding that no further questioning was considered necessary in such cases.
‘Operation Prahar’ against drugs
Kumar said the late-night inspections were intended to curb illicit liquor trading and prevent hotels and dhabas from becoming places where miscreants or other dubious elements could operate.
He said Palamu SP Kapil Chaudhary had launched Operation Prahar against opioids and other forms of illegal drug activity.
“Such a raid at night in hotels and dhabas sends out a strong message to wrongdoers,” Kumar said.
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Police keep watch on hotel, dhaba backyards
Police sources said the inspections are also aimed at checking activities taking place away from the main frontage of hotels and roadside eateries, particularly during late-night hours.
The expansion of the hotel and dhaba business in Palamu has been significant over the past five to six years, coinciding with the widening of the National Highway network to four lanes and the construction of flyovers.
From ‘line hotels’ to highway eateries
Palamu’s roadside dhabas, traditionally known as “line hotels”, have long been associated with night-time traffic on the highway.
In earlier years, motorists would identify these basic eateries by lanterns or Petromax lamps hanging outside. Drivers, apprentices and conductors of long-distance buses and container trucks could also eat there and use charpoys or wooden cots to rest without additional charges.
With the transformation of the highway network and the growth of commercial establishments, many such roadside eateries have evolved into more organised hotels and dhabas, bringing with them new challenges for law enforcement.
