Bhubaneswar: Director-general of police R.P. Sharma on Saturday directed the cops to act tough on people forcefully collecting donation for the Pujas.

Sharma has also directed concerned police stations to intensify patrolling on the national and state highways to ensure that vehicles are not detained for collection of donation.

"Allegations have been received about forceful collection of donation for festivals such as Ganesh Puja, Durga Puja and Kali Puja. The criminals often intimidate, abuse and assault drivers of vehicles on roads. I have asked the concerned police officers to take stringent action against such hooligans," said Sharma.

He had also instructed the concerned police superintendents to conduct raids on bus stands and bus stops to prevent the practice. Sharma has also asked to utilise adequate police force during such raids.

The State Private Bus Operators' Association has been opposing forceful collection of exorbitant amount of money as donations from passenger buses. "Most of the time, buses become the soft target for collection of donations, while drivers are threatened to give exorbitant money during the festive season. The private bus owners have been demanding the police to take stringent action against such practice," said the association's general secretary Debendra Sahu.