Bhubaneswar, Aug. 28: Police have urged residents of the city to lodge complaints of forceful collection of donations ahead of the festive season.

Earlier, director-general of police K.B. Singh had directed the police stations concerned to register extortion case against violators.

The festive season usually starts from Ganesh Puja and continues through Durga Puja and till Kali Puja.

However, puja committees almost always face allegations of demanding exorbitant donations.

"We will take stringent measures to deal with incidents of forceful collection of donation. We urge residents to bring the matter to the police stations concerned and we will book the violators," said deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi.

On August 24, a group of youths allegedly smeared Western Electricity Supply Company of Odisha deputy general manager Ramesh Prasad with ink after he declined to pay donation for Ganesh Puja in Sambalpur.

"These days, puja committees collect donations without considering the financial condition of the family concerned. When the residents express unwillingness, the youths start arguing and even threaten them," alleged Sashank Behera, a Rasulgarh resident.

While most business establishments usually pay donation either on a daily or monthly basis throughout the year, the tenants are the worst sufferers.

"Some puja committees started collecting donations from last week for Durga Puja, which will be observed next month. While the house owners would earlier donate money on the tenants' behalf, puja committees are now asking the tenants to pay separately," said Abhijit Das, who rents a hosue at Chandrasekharpur in the capital.

The State Private Bus Operators' Association had also threatened to halt services on routes where exorbitant amounts of money were collected as donations.

"Buses are soft targets. Bus employees are forced to pay exorbitant amounts as donations during this season. The private bus owners unanimously decided to resist this illegal practice," said association general secretary Debendra Sahu.