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Bhubaneswar, May 31: The state government Tuesday finalised an action plan to modernise police force in 2016-17 with special focus on strengthening anti-terrorist and anti-naxalist operations.
A meeting of state level empowered committee (SLEC), presided over by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi focused on modernisation of anti-terrorist and anti-Naxalist operations, said a home department official, adding, “Padhi directed acquisition of equipment which are robust and compatible with existing data base for their effective use. He advised the police to make use of the equipment supplied to ODRAF units to keep them in good condition.”
Director general of police Kunwar Brajesh Singh said the action plan would be submitted to the state government and the Centre for approval. The plan involves modernisation of arms, equipment for police operations, traffic management, upgradation of intelligence gathering, CCTV surveillance, law and order surveillance, upgradation of communication system, facilities for state CID and fingerprint bureau among others.
Specifying the increased terrorist and Jihadi activities in Orissa, which otherwise is a peaceful state (Orissa), the Home department recently submitted a white paper in the assembly stating the terrorists have taken shelter in the state to stay away from limelight.
On a tip-off, Orissa police arrested Ishwar Chandra Behera, a contractual photographer of interim test range at Chandipur on charges of spying and transmitting visuals of Wheeler Island and Dhamra through his phone.
Likewise, Ramachandran Subhas from Tamil Nadu was arrested for his involvement in Puri serial train burning case. His suspected association with terror outfit is under NIA investigation.
Recently, Delhi police special cell in association with the state police arrested Abdur Rehman from Cuttack for his suspected links with Jehadi organisations like AQIS and a madrasa which was ‘‘radicalising Muslim youths’’, the report said.
Besides, the LWE situation in Malkangiri, Koraput, Nuapada, Bolangir, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Bargarh and Kalahandi districts remained a challenge for the security forces in 2015.
However, the poor provision of funds from the Centre remained a concern, the officials pointed out. The Action Plan for 2016-17 has been estimated to cost around `29crore. The funding pattern for the Centre and state will be in the ratio of 60: 40 against the previous ratio of 75: 25.