Bhubaneswar: Facing criticism after two murders in quick succession in the capital region, Odisha DGP Y B Khurania convened a high-level meeting on Sunday to review the law and order situation.
Senior officers, including IGs, DIGs, SPs, the Commissioner of Police, two DCPs, and the Railway SP, attended the meeting.
“I held discussions with Bhubaneswar UPD and Commissionerate officials on the progress of investigations into the Balianta and Balipatna incidents, and on steps to restore public confidence. Recent media reports appear to have created a sense of insecurity among the people,” the DGP told reporters
Khurania expressed full faith in the Commissionerate Police, which he noted had performed exceptionally well in the past. “They will shift into high gear in the coming days. We will address any visible gaps in the police administration. I assure the public that there is no need to worry — both the Odisha Police and the Commissionerate Police are well equipped to ensure their safety and security. The government has provided us with all necessary resources; now it is up to us to deliver, and we are fully on the job,” he added.
According to an official release, the DGP held a separate review meeting with all SHOs of the Bhubaneswar Commissionerate Police. Discussions focused on the law and order situation in the Commissionerate, steps being taken for crime control, prompt and impartial investigation of sensitive cases, courteous behaviour with the public, and smooth traffic management. He advised the station officers to make policing more effective and result-oriented.
Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh, Additional Police Commissioner Narsingh Bhol, and other senior officers were present.
Key Directives Issued by DGP
Training for Emergency Response Vehicles (ERV): All personnel deployed in ERVs should receive professional and practical training to improve their efficiency and swift response in complex and emergency situations.
Daily Briefing Parades: All police stations in the state must conduct regular “Briefing Parades” every morning before 9 AM. The DGP directed strict compliance and regular monitoring of this directive.
Post-Briefing Review: Following the parades, station-level officers should review the local law and order situation, crime-prone areas, movement of criminals, and ongoing investigations to enhance coordination, alertness, and rapid response capabilities.
The DGP also ordered various stringent measures to strengthen law and order across the state. These include:
>> Prompt execution of pending Non-Bailable Warrants (NBWs).
>> Strict action under the National Security Act (NSA) against notorious and habitual offenders.
>> Intensive drives to curb narcotics trade.
>> Activation of beat patrolling in all police station areas.
>> Increased regular patrolling on national highways.
>> Special campaigns to prevent misconduct and crime-prone incidents.
Senior police officers were directed to regularly monitor serious cases, particularly murder cases, to ensure speedy arrest of accused persons, thorough investigations, and conviction as per law.
The DGP further instructed that the public should be made aware within the next 15 days of positive police actions, swift interventions, and people-centric initiatives.
Two Murders in 24 hours
Barely 24 hours after the shocking mob lynching incident at Balianta, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, another brutal murder rocked the capital region as a young man was allegedly beaten to death by a group of youths near Athantar Chhak under Balipatna police station limits for failing to repay a Rs 20,000 loan.
The alleged delayed and inadequate police response to the May 7 lynching of Government Railway Police (GRP) constable Soumya Ranjan Swain has sparked widespread outrage. Video footage of the 32-year-old being tied to a pole and beaten to death went viral, with family members claiming the assault continued even in the presence of police, which also faced criticism for transporting the victim to the hospital in a pick-up van.
CM Upset
Upon his return from Kolkata on Saturday, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi summoned senior police officers and expressed displeasure over the police’s allegedly delayed and inadequate response to the violence. While ordering a Crime Branch probe into the lynching incident, he instructed the DGP to remain vigilant and take all necessary proactive measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
Oppn Targets Govt
BJD president Naveen Patnaik and Congress president Bhakta Charan Das blamed the incidents on deteriorating law and order in the state. In a post on X, Naveen highlighted “recent barbaric incidents in Hinjili, Kanasa, and Dhenkanal.” He questioned, “If the government cannot prevent such violence even in the suburbs of Bhubaneswar, one can only imagine the situation across the state. What exemplary action has the government taken in those earlier cases?”
On Saturday, senior BJD leader Lekhashree Samantsinghar raised questions about an alleged connection between the lynching victim and an Additional DGP-rank IPS officer. She claimed that Soumya, a railway police personnel, was reportedly working at the senior officer’s residence and gym instead of performing official duties. Describing the matter as serious, she asserted that police personnel should be assigned to government work, not personal tasks at officers’ homes.
Lekhashree demanded clarification from the state government on how long railway police staff had allegedly been deployed for such duties. She also referred to allegations made by Soumya’s mother, who claimed the IPS officer owned several gyms and a large fleet of trucks.
