Bhubaneswar: Police have asked officers of the Sri Lingaraj station to start patrolling around ancient monuments after a tourist posted a video of gamblers playing cards and a youth smoking marijuana near an Old Town monument.

The tourist, Deepayan Roy, tweeted to Odisha police to stop such practice. The cops swung into action after the video, shot at Lakhmaneswar Temple, went viral on social media.

"The local police station has been asked to keep strict vigil on the monuments and prevent the assembly of dubious people. We also urge local residents to inform us about such activities," said deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi.

The Old Town area has more than 100 old monuments and, barring a few temples such as Linagraj, Rajarani and Ananta Basudeva, others languish in neglect.

Local residents alleged that most of these dilapidated structures had become a den for criminals. "They not only indulge in gambling, but also smoke ganja and do drugs. Some of these monuments are haven for criminals in the evenings. We have long demanded stringent actions against such elements," said local resident Ramakant Sahoo.

Sources said such activities were a regular occurrence at the Khandagiri and Udaygiri hills, with youths extorting money from couple visiting the hills, a major tourist destination.

"We have asked the police station concerned to intensify patrolling at Dhauli, Botanical Garden, and Sikharchandi. We will also deploy women cops in plainclothes," added Bhoi.