17% Posts In Odisha Police Vacant: Govt Reply In Assembly

Bhubaneswar: Altogether, 11,456 of sanctioned 67,671 posts were lying vacant in the state police department till August 1 this year, said minister of state for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra in the State Assembly on Monday.

Replying to a question of the BJP member Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia during the question hour, he said 13 DIGs, 15 SPs and 248 Inspectors posts are lying vacant against the sanctioned strength of 20, 63 and 1077 respectively.

Participating in the discussion, Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra said 60 MLAs had proposed the state government to set up 68 new police stations and upgrade the 103 police outposts and three police stations. Although the Speaker had given a ruling on this, the state government is yet to any steps till date.

Taking note of the concern of the members, the Speaker directed the minister to immediately convene a meeting of the DGP, DIG, Crime Branch and the Home Secretary after the question hour and make a statement in the house later in the day.