POLICE ADMINISTRATION

       LAW AND ORDER :

1   The over all law and order situation in the State remained generally satisfactory. The agitational activities by various groups were handled tactfully and effectively. There was no major student agitation nor labour or agrarian unrest. Communal harmony was maintained. For maintenance of Law and Order, 20 Mobile Patrol units have been introduced in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar cities. 8 more sub-groups of Special Operation Group and a Police Station at INFOCITY, Bhubaneswar have been established during the current year.

    However, the left wing extremism, in parts of Southern, Western and Northern Orissa, continued to be a matter of concern. All the possible steps have been taken to combat the extremism. The police resorted to firing on 17 occasions i.e on 5 occasions to disperse riotous mob, 5 occasions for crime control,  once during the rescue of Block Chairman while being attacked by a wild bear and on 6 occasions to counter militant activities of Left  Wing Extremists. During the period, police resorted to lathi charge and use of tear gas on two occasions to deal with the irate mob. Law and order situation has been handled with least recourse to force. 

    For improvement of law and order the following measures have been taken during the year 2006.

    Massive recruitment drives have been undertaken to fill up 7,000 posts in the rank of Sub-Inspector, Constable and Sepoys in the State Police Force.

    The 2^nd I.R. Battalion sanctioned by the Government of India is going to be established in the State to combat the naxal insurgencies in the naxal affected districts of the State. 1,005 posts of different ranks have been created so far.

    To combat naxalite menace in the affected districts, Government have created as many as 916 posts in different ranks in Orissa Police.

    For augmentation of the present sanctioned strength of 83 Naxalite affected Police Stations and to guard 6 Jails, State Government have created 4,157 posts in different ranks for Orissa State Armed Police (Special Security) Battalion.

    With a view to increasing the training and reserve capability of SOG, 8 sub-groups for Special Operation Group consisting of 816 posts in different ranks have been created.

    Office of Addl. S.P. at Paradeep was established with creation of 9 posts in different cadres. To maintain the law and order situation in Bidanasi area of Cuttack district, Government have established a new Police Station at Markatnagar with creation of 22 posts of different ranks.

    Government have also decided to recruit 1,652 Ex-Army personnel for their  re-deployment in newly created OSAP(Special Security) Battalion.

    Government have also created 12 posts of different ranks to guard the Central Stamp Depot, Bhubaneswar.    Kamarda Out Post and Uditnagar Out Post have been upgraded to that of  Police Sations.

    The Orissa Police is improving fast in its mobility, equipment, weaponry, communications, training and accommodation for its force. In order to enhance the efficacy of the police at the grass root level, the Government have enhanced the limits of expenditure at the police station level on P.O.L., prisoners feeding charges, and dead body carrying charges. Provision of         re-imbursement of Mobile telephone bills in respect of Officers-in-charge of the Police Stations has been introduced. Provision of forms, stationeries and other contingency charges and Imprest Money (one time permanent advance) for the Police Stations have also been enhanced.

    Government have revised the present sets of orders for recruitment of Constables in Civil Police, I.R. Battalion and Sepoys in OSAP Battalions as follows:

a)  Orissa Police Service (Methods of Recruitment & Conditions of Services of Constables) Order, 2006.

b) OSAP Battalion and OSAP (Special security) Battalion Service (Method of Recruitment and conditions of Service of Sepoys) Order, 2006.

c) India Reserve Battalion Service (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service of Constables) Order, 2006.

d) Orissa Police Service (Methods of Recruitment and Conditions of Service of Sub-Inspector of Police) Order, 2006.

2    POLICE REFORMS

     In pursuance of orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court in Writ Petition (C) No.310 of 1996 steps have been taken to separate the investigating police from the Law and Order Police to ensure speedier investigation, better expertise and improved rapport with the people. To start with, the State Government have decided to introduce the system in twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. A high level committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary is constituted to recommend a draft legislation.

3    BUNDH, RASTA ROKO & RAIL ROKO AGITATION :

    The opposition political parties, their front organisations and local groups organised   55 ‘Bundhs’, 339 “ Rasta Roko” and 21 “Rail Roko” during 2006.  All these agitations were handled carefully with tact and patience. No major incident has taken place. These agitations were organized on various issues which were mostly for fulfillment of local demands and protest against various causes.

4    Communal HARMONY :

    The overall communal situation in the State remained peaceful despite heightened communal tension and fragile atmosphere after the serial bomb blast at Mumbai, terrorist attack on Sankat Mochan Ashram, Baranasi (U.P.) Communal amity has been maintained in the state. Different religious festivals of all communities like Sri Ramnavami, Car Festival, Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Birthday of Prophet Mohammed, Id-ul-fitre were observed incident-free due to adequate police vigil. District Administration and all concerned have been alerted from time to time in anticipation of communal problems and law and order situations in the State. There were 33 instances of Hindu-Muslim discord and 14 Hindu-Christian discord which occurred till 30.11.2006 over localized issues. Due to pro-active role of the police and administration, none of these instances were allowed to escalate into major communal trouble.

5    LABOUR AND SERVICES:

    There was no State-wide labour unrest in the year, 2006.  However, employees of some industrial units resorted to agitational activities like demonstration/ dharana/ rasta roko/ protest meeting/ procession/ rallies, etc. and presentation of memoranda demanding fulfilment of their various demands like re-instatement of retrenched employees, equal wage for equal work, regularization of services of contract labourers, payment of arrear dues. No untoward incident took place during these agitations due to close vigil by Police and tactful handling of the situation by the administration.

    The United Forum of Employees and Teachers, Orissa organized a rally (25,000 including 1,500 ladies) on 15.02.2006 at lower PMG Crossing, Bhubaneswar followed by a public meeting protesting against non-consideration of their demands like merger of 50% D.A. with basic pay, increase in retirement age to 60 years etc. State Government considering the appeal of different service associations announced merger of 50% D.A. with Basic Pay of the salary and re-introduction of LTC facilities to the State Government employees with effect from 01.04.2006.

    During the year, the agitations by Service Associations and labourers were handled with tact and forbearance and no law and order problem took place.

6    INDUSTRIAL:

    The State Government have signed serveral M.O.Us. with various Private Sector Companies and Industrial Houses for setting up of several industries. This was initiated to bringout rapid industrialisation in Orissa. As a result, several Industrial clusters are coming up in Kalinga Nagar (Jajpur District), Paradeep (Jagatsinghpur), Angul-Talcher belt (Angul District and part of Dhenkanal District), Jharsugada and Sambalpur District, Lanjigarh (Kalahandi District) as well as Kashipur (Rayagada District). Due to such rapid industrialization, rasta roko/ dharana/ rally etc. are being organized in the area by the land oustees/ displaced people/ opposition/ interested political parties/ anti-industrial groups, etc. They are demanding employment, proper rehabilitation and resettlement package, control of environmental pollution, etc.

       Efforts made by some groups to take up anti-industry agitation have been handled with tact and peaceful atmosphere has been maintained. Government is committed to ensure the just rights of the locals including adivasis and issues of displaced people relating to payment of compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement are being addressed in a just and equitable manner.

7       STUDENT UNREST :. 

    There was no State wide Student unrest during the year 2006. However, demanding total roll back of proposed 27% reservation of seats for OBC category students in different medical colleges/ technical institutions. Under Graduate students/ PG students/ House Surgeons of three Government Medical Colleges of the State launched cease work agitation, organized procession, motor cycle rally, mashal and candle procession etc.  in the months of April and May, 2006.

    Student Union elections of different colleges of the State were held on 26.09.2006 without any significant incidents. But following murder of a Student of Nayagarh College by one of his fellow student due to Union election rivalry on 31.10.2006, students of the said college and villagers of nearby villages of Nayagarh resorted to rasta roko agitation at different places demanding immediate arrest of accused persons. Besides, members of All India OI-Chiki Students’ Union observed 24-hours ‘Mayurbhanj Bundh’ on 28.11.2006 demanding posting of OI-Chiki teachers at different schools of tribal areas and publication of books in Santhali language in OI-Chiki script and not in Oriya script.

    No untoward incident took place during these agitations due to close vigil by police and tactful handling of the situation by the administration.

8         LEFT WING EXTREMISM :

Ø      There has been no dislocation in the even tempo of socio-economic, political and development activities in the Maoist affected areas of the State during the current year (2006) due to pro-active steps taken by the State Government.

Ø      There has been no allegation of human rights violation or excesses being committed by the security forces during the anti-naxalite operations.

Ø      The ethnic/land related problems which were being exploited by the Maoist activists to their advantage during the preceding years could not be allowed to escalate and assume serious proportions due to proper monitoring and tactful handling of the situation.

Ø      The State Government have formulated a progressive and forward looking “Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy” to address the issue of displacement due to industrialization.

Ø      The State Government have formulated a “Comprehensive Surrender and Rehabilitation Scheme” to encourage the youth drifting towards Naxalism to such violence and join the mainstream and rehabilitate them suitably.

Ø      The  Naxal violence profile in the state remains much less in the current year compared to other naxal affected neighbouring States. Only 36 incidents involving 25 deaths ( 3 Civilians, 4 Security Personnel and 18 Naxalite activists) took place in the State during the current year ( till Novermber, 16) compared to 560 incidents involving 341 deaths in Chhatisgarh, 228 incidents involving 91 deaths in Jharkhand, 146 incidents involving 36 deaths in Andhra Pradesh and 78 incidents involving 36 deaths in Bihar till 30.09.2006.

 Ø      The security personnel have recovered 64 landmines/ claymore mines/ Grenades/ Petrol Bombs and 55 guns during anti-Naxalite operations.

 Ø      The security personnel have arrested 42 Maoist activists (7 in Rayagada district, 8 in Malkangiri District, 20 in Gajapati District ,1 in Kandhamal district, 3 in Rourkela Police district and 3 in Samablpur District) including Sobha @ Sheela @ Buduni Munda @ Marandi, Central Committee Member of CPI(Maoist) and 12 Maoist activists involved in R. Udayagiri incident of 24.03.2006 in Gajapati district.

 Ø      Barring the R. Udayagiri incident of 24.03.2006 in Gajapati District, the Maoists have not been able to carry out any organized attack on the security forces in fact, except Malkangiri and Gajapati districts, there has been no loss of life in other naxal affected districts due to naxal violence.

 Ø      Compared to death of 15 persons (security personnel and civilians) due to naxal violence in 2005, 7 persons (Security personnel and Civilians) have lost their lives in such violence during the current year. The security forces have engaged Maoist militants on 16 occasions resulting in the death of 18 CPI ( Maoist) militants including a few top ranking cadres during the current year as against death of 6 Maoist militants (3 in Police action and 3 in accidental explosion) in 2005.

 9   ETHNIC DISTURBANCE  :

    Reaction was noticed between Sabarna and Harijans of Keredagada under Rajnagar  Police Station ( Kendrapara) over entry of Dalit ladies into the Jagannath Temple situated in the above said village on Kartika Purnima when the latter entered inside the Jagannath Temple and restricted by the temple priest and Sabarnas of Keredagada and its adjoining Gram Panchayats. Following this, the memebrs of Lohia Bichar manch held a Press meet on 01.11.2006 at Bhubaneswar.
    Besides, the Sabarnas of this area held a meeting (2000) on 02.11.2006 and decided not to allow Harijans to enter inside the temple and also formed a committee named “Sabarna Surakhya Samiti”. Harijans also have formed a Committee styled as “Keradagada Mandir Prabesh Dalit Manch”. Subsequently, Harijans entered in the said temple on 14.12.2006. Earlier Hon’ble High Court of Orissa has given verdict on 05.12.2006 that Hindus can enter inside the temple. The District Administration also allowed the same. After the above issue Puja and rituals was stopped by the temple priest.

        A meeting of both Harijans and Sabarnas was held on 17.12.2006 in R.I. office, Keradagada near to the temple in presence of RDC,CD, Cuttack, Collector/S.P, Kendrapara. Suren Kumar Swain and about 20 others from Sabarna side and Satrughna Mahalik from Harijan side attended the same. After prolonged discussion the members of Sabarna suggested that, the Harijans should have ‘Darshan’ from the grill gate near nine holes (Naukana) and the Harijans suggested to have darshan at the first steps of the temple. However, it was decided that a grill gate will be fixed near “Nine Holes” and a wooden bar will also be fixed near the first step of the temple, where all devotees irrespective of their caste will have darshan. Puja and rituals in the temple have started from 17.12.2006.