Security of vulnerable groups top priority: CM

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Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday told the Assembly that safety and security of women, children and other vulnerable groups remains the top priority of his government.
Addressing the Assembly on the demand of grants for Home Department, Patnaik said, “In the highly condemnable rape incidents in recent times, police have taken timely action in arresting the accused in the shortest possible time and I want to assure this august House that my government will spare no efforts in ensuring that they are tried expeditiously.”
The law and order situation in the state has by and large remained peaceful. The overall crime situation is also well under control. No major Left Wing Extremism (LWE) activity has been noticed in the affected districts, he said.
Three new cyber police stations at Berhampur, Sambalpur and Rourkela have been established to prevent cyber crime, he said. There has been a sharp decline even in recruitment to the outlawed CPM (Maoist) and the support base of the organisation has been rendered weak due to pro-active security measures and developmental interventions.
The intelligence-based operations of the state police have yielded significant results in 2018 with neutralization of five hardcore cadres and 12 arrests. Permission for filling up of 3944 posts in various ranks in the police has been granted along with creation of 444 posts in different ranks, he stated.
In order to strengthen the jail administration, the CM said, CCTV and video conferencing facilities have been installed in 62 prisons, while jammers have been installed in seven important jails and baggage scanners in five jails. In a major development, 192 assistant public prosecutors have been recruited to strengthen the state prosecution service.
The state government has also framed the Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Rules, 2017, to ensure adoption of proper fire safety measures in high-rise buildings as well as other establishments and temporary structures.
Expressing concern over the increasing road accidents and fatalities, Naveen said, “We are initiating highway patrolling, special drives to enforce traffic discipline and use of high tech gadgets to detect over speeding.”
To enhance air connectivity within the state, the government has initiated action to upgrade air strips at various places, for which a provision of about `100 crore has been made.
Special provision of `50 crore has been made for development or master plan of roads in Bhubaneswar, he said, adding, “My government has decided to set up a state vigilance academy at Bhubaneswar for upgrading the professional knowledge and skills of the vigilance officers.”