Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressing concern for low rate of conviction, asked the Odisha Police use modern technology in investigation and also focus on the crimes against women and children.
Mr.Patnaik said this while addressing the valedictory session of the annual senior police officers conference. “Low conviction rate continues to be an area of concern. All possible steps should be taken to enhance conviction rate by factoring in modern technology into the investigation, the chief minister said.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics, the conviction rate in Odisha stood at 11.2%, the second lowest after Assam, whose conviction rate was 5.4% in 2020. In 2019, the state’s conviction rate was 21.5%, the NCRB report stated.
Stating that crime against women and children should always be a focus area for the police, Mr.Patnaik said any complaint received in this regard should be attended as per law immediately with empathy. Special wing in Odisha Police to look after offences against women and children should provide leadership in this field, he said.
Mr.Patnaik, who also the Minister Home, also pointed out that the road safety continues to be an area of concern. There is an urgent need to take up preventive and innovative steps to reduce the death in accidents, CM said.
CM said “We are committed to ensure safety and security of the people especially the vulnerable sections of society.”
“I expect all of you (senior officers) to lead the police by personal example and provide quality leadership. I also expect you to be caring and very sensitive to the victims and their families,” Mr.Patnaik said his address to the gathering attended by Chief Secretary SC Mohapatra, DGP Abhay, DGP designate Sunil Kumar Bansal and other officers.
Mr.Patnaik said he is aware of the shortage of housing for front line police personnel. Hence, for the next five years, a sum of Rs. 1000 crores will be provided for police buildings with special emphasis on housing for the police personnel, he said.
While commending the police for its self less service during the natural calamities like cyclone and COVID-19 pandemic with compassion and empathy, Patnaik said 61 Police personnel sacrificed their lives in the line of duty as Covid Warriors. “I pay homage to the departed souls and assure their families all support,” the Chief Minister said.
Mr.Patnaik also lauded the police role in significant improvement in the Left Wing Extremism situation in the state as a result this year alone 5 districts like Angul, Boudh, Deogarh, Nayagarh and Sambalpur have been declared as LWE free. Swabhiman Anchal, erstwhile Cut-Off Area in Malkangiri district has seen remarkable improvement over the last couple of years,” he said.
“I am happy to note that the law and order situation in the State remained peaceful in the year 2021,” the chief minister said adding that the aim of “Mo Sarkar” is that people coming to public offices should be treated with dignity. Good feedback has been received under Mo Sarkar regarding Odisha Police, he noted.
Under the 5T (team work, technology, transparency, timely completion of work leading to transformation) charter of the police certain good initiatives have taken place. These include strengthening of Civil police, fast processing of Passport verification, timely promotion of police men, e-FIR in theft cases. New initiatives should be taken up under 5T, he pointed out.
Mr.Patnaik also congratulated the police for organizing an effective drive against Narcotic drugs throughout the state with the STF taking the lead. “I am told that a record quantity of narcotics has been seized. Special Drive against drugs should continue with renewed vigor. Special Narcotics Unit has been created in the STF. Now more emphasis should be given for curbing Narcotic drugs in urban areas,” he told the senior officers.
CM said the STF is also for carrying out a special drive against wildlife trade which has led to substantial recovery which includes 21 leopard skins and many live pangolins.
