Bhubaneswar: Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania is set to chair a crucial high-level meeting on Sunday at 4 pm to assess the state’s law and order situation.
The review meeting, which will be attended by all Inspectors General (IGs), Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), Superintendents of Police (SPs), the Commissioner of Police, two Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), and the Railway SP, comes at the directive of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi.
The move follows widespread outrage over the brutal mob lynching of Government Railway Police (GRP) constable Soumya Ranjan Swain at Balianta, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on May 7.
Upon his return from Kolkata on Saturday, Chief Minister Majhi summoned senior police officers and expressed displeasure over the police’s allegedly delayed and inadequate response to the violence.
Sources said Majhi particularly criticised the manner in which the injured constable was shifted from the spot to the hospital and directed that accountability be fixed on the responsible police personnel.
The Saturday meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hemant Sharma, DGP Y.B. Khurania, Director (Intelligence) R.P. Koche, Crime Branch DG Vinaytosh Mishra, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh, ADG (Law & Order) Sanjay Kumar, and Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena.
A visibly upset Majhi instructed the DGP to remain vigilant and take all necessary proactive measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. After a comprehensive discussion on the matter, he instructed the Crime Branch to carry out a proper, thorough probe and take strictest possible action against those involved in mob violence and ensure stringent punishment for all perpetrators connected to the Balianta incident.
