Bhubaneswar police have launched an inquiry after a viral video purportedly showed a young man consuming a suspected intoxicant inside a traffic aid post near Kharvel Nagar police station, raising questions about surveillance at a busy public location. The footage, circulated widely on social media, is being examined for its authenticity, timing and the identity of the person shown.
The traffic assistance booth is located at Sriya Square on Janpath, one of the city’s busy commercial stretches, and is around 100 metres from Kharvel Nagar police station. According to the report, the video shows the man allegedly taking brown sugar inside the structure before lying down there. Cigarette rolls, matchboxes and a suspected intoxicant are also visible in the footage.
Police have not confirmed that the video depicts an actual drug-use incident or established when it was recorded. A senior police officer said an inquiry had been initiated and that the circumstances, the identity of the person and the timing of the incident were being verified.
The investigation will also examine whether personnel responsible for monitoring the area were negligent. Another officer said the department would determine whether the individual was a habitual offender or involved in drug-related activities. The officer added that appropriate action would follow if dereliction of duty was established.
The incident has drawn concern from residents and traders in the area because the alleged activity took place inside police property and close to a police station. Local trader Satyanarayan Swain described the footage as disturbing and said the location raised questions about the effectiveness of surveillance and vigilance in the area. His remarks were reported in the context of concerns about public safety around the busy Janpath corridor.
The case places attention on the function of traffic aid posts beyond their visible role in road management. Such structures are located in high-footfall areas and are expected to remain under police oversight, making access, monitoring and maintenance relevant to public confidence. In this case, however, the police inquiry must first establish whether the video is authentic, when the alleged incident occurred and whether the structure was accessible at the time.
Police said special drives against narcotics trafficking and consumption were continuing across the city. An officer said the crackdown on drug peddlers and consumers had been intensified and that anyone found violating the law would face action. The department’s immediate next steps are to verify the footage, identify the person shown and determine whether any lapse occurred in monitoring the aid post.
