Focus on Grassroots Policing, Not Expansion of Police Ranges: Sabyasachi Sahu .

Jajpur,20/09(PPT): Social worker Sabyasachi Sahu has urged the Odisha Government to prioritise strengthening police stations, filling vacancies and improving frontline policing before proceeding with further expansion of the police range structure. His remarks come amid the State Government’s consideration of a proposed Nilachal Range, comprising Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh districts, with Puri as its headquarters. The proposal is aimed at easing the administrative burden on the existing Central Range, which currently covers a large jurisdiction. Mr. Sahu said administrative restructuring may have its own requirements, but the effectiveness of policing would ultimately depend on the availability of personnel and resources at the police-station level. He called for adequate manpower, mobility, communication facilities, modern investigation equipment, cyber and forensic support and other basic infrastructure so that citizens can receive timely police assistance. The need for additional manpower has also been highlighted by the State police leadership, with DGP Y.B. Khurania stating in July that around 33,000 posts were vacant in the Odisha Police, including newly sanctioned positions.
Mr. Sahu said the Government should first ensure that existing police stations and outposts have sufficient personnel and operational resources before expanding the administrative hierarchy. He also called for stronger community-oriented policing and greater accessibility of police services, particularly in rural and rapidly developing areas. The State has recently undertaken police infrastructure projects, including a modern police station at Talbania in Puri and the Brahmabarda police station in Jajpur, besides residential facilities for police personnel. The Government said infrastructure worth ₹195 crore was inaugurated in June and 658 police residential units were constructed in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Jajpur. Mr. Sahu said such infrastructure should be matched by adequate staffing, trained investigators and modern technology. “Before creating another layer of administrative structure, the priority should be to ensure that every police station has adequate manpower, resources and trained personnel to respond effectively to citizens,” he said. He added that police reform should focus on reducing the gap between citizens and frontline services, while administrative restructuring could be considered wherever there was a demonstrable operational requirement.