Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday exhorted the police personnel to come up with new ideas to improve its image by providing quality services.
Addressing the 62nd Senior Police Officers conference here, he said the force personnel should provide quality leadership to the police.
He laid emphasis on special drive against organized crime and extortion in State with more focused efforts.
“Low conviction rate continues to be an area of concern and all possible steps should be taken to enhance conviction rate by factoring in modern technology into the investigation,” he said.
Crime against women and children remains our focus area, he said while announcing the creation of special wing in Odisha Police to look after offences against women and children.
“I expect that with these initiatives, quality services will be provided to the women and children,” the Chief Minister said.
“I also expect you to be caring and sensitive to the victims and their families. You should aim to provide justice to all sections of the society,” the Chief Minister said.
Referring to the left wing extremism in several districts of the State he said, “The LWE problem is dynamic in nature and keeps changing, close monitoring and focused efforts should continue.”
However, Mr.Patnaik said, a progressive and sustainable improvement has been noticed in the left wing extremism situation.
“Two brave hearts have laid down their lives this year in the fight against the Maoists,” he said adding, “Families of the martyrs should be taken care of by the State Police.”
I hope that the recommendations emerging out of this conference will improve the quality of policing in the State.
Mr.Patnaik asserted that the aim of ‘Mo Sarkar’ has been that people coming to Police Stations should be treated with dignity and it is satisfying to see that the feedback taken under the programme has been very positive.
“Though certain good initiatives under 5T in Odisha Police have been taken up there is a need to increase the same,” the Chief Minister said.
Commending the overall efforts of Odisha Police in handling the Corona pandemic situation with compassion and empathy, he said and added while doing so many police personnel laid down their lives in the line of duty.
“I pay homage to the departed souls and assure their families all support,” he said.
Mr.Patnaik also appreciated the fact that within record time, special family pension was sanctioned to 38 next of kin of the deceased police personnel while 29 next of kin received Rs 50 lakh ex-gratia compensation.
The remaining cases should be processed without any delay, he directed.
The Chief Minister also praised the 930 police personnel who voluntarily donated plasma for treatment of Covid patients.
He commended the work of SPs of Malkangiri and Kandhamal district for their efforts in curbing Coronavirus spread and that of SP Keonjhar and Angul for the overall improvement in the industrial atmosphere.
The Chief Minister also complimented the State Police for organising an effective drive against narcotics throughout the State with the STF taking the lead.
“I am told that in this drive a record quantity of narcotics has been seized. Commendable work has been done by DIG STF and SP Koraput,” he said.
Mr.Patnaik in his address also referred to road safety saying it is another area of concern.
“Road accident related fatalities are very high in our State. There is need to take up preventive and enforcement initiatives as well as public awareness campaign in coordination with other stakeholders like Transport, Works Department etc. to bring down such fatalities,” he said.
Mr.Patnaik said that the Government is aware of need for strengthening civil police in the State in view of increasing demands on the police services and informed that six new police stations have been made functional from Wednesday.
“Further 905 additional posts in various ranks have been sanctioned for strengthening Police Stations by surrendering as many posts elsewhere,” he informed.
Mr.Patnaik also said that the Government is aware of shortage of housing for frontline police personnel and assured that substantial funds will be allocated to fulfill such housing requirements.