By Sandeep Dwivedy
Post News Network
said that 2014 had
been largely peaceful
Cuttack, Jan 8: The upcoming Nabakalebar festival will be a major test for the state police as it will be responsible for not only crowd management but also maintenance of law and order, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the concluding day of the 58th senior police officers conference of Orissa Police here ended Thursday.
“The state government had made funds available to create new infrastructure for the police for better crowd and traffic management,’ said the Chief Minister.
Patnaik lauded the police’s handling of the general and Assembly polls in the state. He said that 2014 had been largely peaceful and this has been possible because of the efforts of the police.
There has also been considerable improvement in the handling of Left wing extremism in the state, said the chief minister. “The activities of Left wing extremists have been brought under control except in the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Nuapada, Rayagada, Nabarangapur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Bolangir and Bargarh,” he said, adding that these districts should in the focus of the state police.
Patnaik said it is heartening that there has been zero casualty among state police personnel because of naxal violence in Orissa in 2014. “The state government has substantially augmented the strength of special operations group, intelligence wing and district voluntary force, which are in the forefront of left wing extremism operations in the state,” said the Chief Minister.
Patnaik asked the superintendents of police (SP)s concerned to look after the families of police personnel who lay down their lives on the line of duty. He stressed the need to ensure zero tolerance towards crimes against women and children.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has started “Ama police” programme in one police station of the state on a pilot basis. The programme, which is aimed at improving relations between police and the public, will be extended to other police stations of Orissa, he said.