Law And Order, Crime Prevention My Top Priority: DGP BK Sharma

Cuttack: Senior IPS officer Bijay Kumar Sharma, who took full additional charge as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Odisha and the Head of Police Force (HoPF) on Thursday, said that he will give top priority to law and order and prevention of crime.

“On the professional front, I will accord top priority to investigation. As I have worked in the state Crime Branch for a long time, I have a weakness towards investigation. We have to improve our investigation methods and increase the rate of conviction,” Sharma told the media after formally taking charge from the outgoing DGP, RP Sharma, at the State Police headquarters here.

On the left-wing extremism in the state, the new DGP said Odisha police have been immensely successful in tackling the ultras. “Out of 15 districts, the Maoists are now active only in 5 districts. We will have to intensify our efforts to drive out these ultras from these districts to expedite developmental works,” he added.

On police-public relationship, Sharma said the police stations are the nerve centres of the policing system. The manner of dealing with the public in a police station in matters of the complaint, promptness and follow-up action in the disposal of cases and quick redressal of grievances entirely depends on the acceptability of police by the society at large, he said.

“I hope that the police stations will maintain transparency in the coming days. The State Police have to closely stay in touch with the tradition and heritage of Odisha and accordingly mend their behaviour, attitude, and relationship with the people. Unless we give up the archaic British mentality, we will not be acceptable to the society,” he added.

Sharma also said the police have to be accessible to the people. “Most of the time, people have complained that they were not able to meet the senior officers for redressal of their grievances. I will definitely make efforts to ensure that the people can stay in touch with the senior officers either on social media, through mobile messages and telephone,” he said.

The DGP also stressed on strengthening the basic infrastructure of police stations in terms of the number of policemen and vehicles. “Unless these basic infrastructures are addressed, police will not be able to discharge their duty properly,” he added.

On the use of modern technology for crime detection and prevention, Sharma said like the police forces in western countries as well as some states in India, Odisha Police have to be technology-driven.

“The Odisha government lays stress on 5Ts for the adoption of high-end digital technology. Odisha Police have also adopted Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) and Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS). I want policemen in Odisha, starting from the constables to senior officers, should widely use these technologies. These will work as a force multiplier, which will help in quick detection and prevention of crime, smooth traffic management and proper security arrangements,” Sharma said.

The new DGP also laid emphasis on the safety and security of women and strengthening of the intelligence network.