Bhubaneswar: A selection committee headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and comprising Assembly Speaker, High Court Chief Justice, Leader of Opposition and a Governor’s nominee has recommended the name of Director General of Police (DGP) Rajendra Prasad Sharma as one of the members of Lokayukta.
However, before finding a replacement for Sharma as Director General of Police, the recommendation to select him as a member of Lokayukta has ensured that the department ends up running headless.
Following his selection, Sharma has applied for a voluntary retirement from police service. With no one at the helm of the state police today, the department has lost its focus, resulting in a spurt in crime and a total breakdown of law and order. A rash of violence and serious offences across the state speak volumes about the worsening situation.
A minor tribal girl was allegedly raped inside a bus in Puri late night July 8 while three persons were hacked to death by miscreants near Pattnaikiya Chhak in Puri Sunday afternoon. Irate people vandalised vehicles on the highway and staged a road blockade. These two incidents happened when over 10,000 police personnel were present at the pilgrim town. Similarly, a young businessman was shot at by miscreants in Kendrapara last Saturday.
In a shameful incident, a 17-month-old tribal girl was allegedly raped by one of her relatives at Khunta in Mayurbhanj district July 5. A recent brawl in Rayagada also accentuated the deplorable law and order situation in the state. At least five police personnel, including a woman constable, were injured and a police vehicle damaged in a mob attack on Rayagada police station.
The incident took place Saturday evening when supporters of Rayagada MLA Makaranda Muduli staged protests outside the police station.
The raft of cases proves that there is no rule of law in the state and the anti-social elements have became brazen as they have no fear.
