75 middlemen from healthcare institutes, RTOs arrested in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Police on Friday arrested as many as 75 middlemen operating in various healthcare institutes and Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in Odisha.

Police said that 31 middlemen were arrested from hospitals while 44 others were arrested from RTOs in different districts.

The Odisha police have launched a special drive after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed to make hospitals and RTOs free of middlemen.

Special drive against middlemen and Dalal is continuing statewide in different hospitals, medical colleges, blood banks, dispensaries and regional transport offices.

DGP BK Sharma has categorically instructed the Superintendents of Police and DCPs to register specific cases against the middlemen/Dalals and arrest them promptly on the basis of evidence who are found cheating people in the hospitals and transport offices.

Investigation of these cases shall focus on establishing linkages of middlemen with others including owners of nursing homes, diagnostic centres, health officials, Transport operators and Transport officials so that appropriate legal action can be taken against them.

DGP has further directed that the drive against middlemen/dalals shall continue on a daily basis under the direct supervision of Superintendents of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police.

They have been directed to submit Situation Report (SITREP) on a daily basis regarding action taken in different districts.