Bhubaneswar: Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Binayatosh Mishra Tuesday directed police authorities to prepare comprehensive security plans well in advance to ensure peaceful, orderly and safe celebrations during the upcoming festive season.
Chairing a high-level review meeting on law and order, crime control and policing in districts under the Central Range at the State Police Headquarters in Kataka, Mishra stressed the need for adequate deployment of police personnel at sensitive locations, effective crowd management and smooth traffic regulation during major festivals.
He advised district Superintendents of Police (SPs) to organise peace committee meetings and maintain close coordination with local elected representatives, community leaders and various organisations to ensure communal harmony and prevent disturbances. The DGP also emphasised regular monitoring of communally sensitive areas and directed the police to take preventive measures in advance to avert any untoward incidents.
During the meeting, Mishra held detailed discussions with the district SPs on the overall law and order situation and measures to control serious crimes, including murder, theft, dacoity and robbery. He also reviewed measures to reduce road accident fatalities, prevent excise-related offences, strengthen the campaign for a ‘Drug-Free Odisha’, combat cybercrime, expedite investigations and ensure that charge sheets are filed within the stipulated time. Improving the conviction rate was also discussed.
The DGP said the Central Range holds special significance as several important districts of the state come under its jurisdiction. With a series of major festivals, including Ganesh Puja, Nuakhai, Vishwakarma Puja, Durga Puja, Gajalaxmi Puja, Diwali/Kali Puja, Amla Navami, Panchu ka and Bali Yatra, scheduled to be celebrated in the coming months, he directed police officials to formulate detailed security arrangements well in advance.
He instructed officers-in-charge of local police stations to regularly visit their respective areas, establish cordial relations with local residents and elected representatives, and promptly address grievances and concerns relating to law and order. The Sub-Divisional Police Officers (SDPOs) were directed to regularly inspect police stations under their jurisdiction and closely monitor their functioning, investigation of crimes, progress of cases and delivery of police services. For more effective crime control, the DGP directed police officials to maintain a close watch on the activities of habitual and organised criminals and take stringent legal action against them. He also instructed the SPs to strengthen naka checking and patrolling to curb illegal cattle transportation, illegal mining and the unlawful transportation of minerals. Regular raids and vehicle checks should be conducted, and violators brought to book, he said.
The DGP further directed the police to closely monitor rumours and provocative, objectionable and misleading content circulated through social media and take effective measures to counter attempts to spread misinformation and create unrest. He stressed the need to further strengthen the intelligence-gathering mechanism to obtain advanced information about possible crimes, untoward incidents and potential law-and-order problems so that timely preventive action could be taken. The meeting was attended by senior police officials and the SPs of districts under the Central Range.
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