Bhubaneswar: Odisha police have revived the practice of district-level inspections by senior IPS officers, a system that had been shelved since 2019. According to an order issued by the state police headquarters on June 6, 15 officers in the ranks of DGP, ADGP, and IGP have been tasked with inspecting police-related activities in 17 districts starting in July. The order did not clarify why the practice was discontinued after 2019.
Scope of Inspections
The inspections will cover the functioning of reserve and district police offices, crime situations, left-wing extremism, and overall law and order. Officers have been directed to submit detailed inspection notes within 15 days of their visits. “The inspecting officers should intimate the month in which they will inspect the assigned districts for approval of the DGP,” the order stated.
Assigned Officers and Districts
- Crime branch DG Vinaytosh Mishra: Balasore and Bhadrak districts
- Anti-Naxal operations ADG Sanjeeb Panda: Koraput and Rayagada
- Modernisation ADG Saumendra Priyadarshi: Jagatsinghpur
- Coastal security ADG Arun Bothra: Angul
- ADG (headquarters) Prateek Mohanty: Jajpur
- Training IGP Anup Kumar Sahoo: Puri
- Crime branch IGP Sarthak Sarangi: Kendrapada
Omissions and Concerns
Notably, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack commissionerate areas, along with Ganjam and Berhampur districts — where heinous crimes have surged in recent months — were left out of the inspection list. The headquarters did not clarify the omission. A senior officer noted that as per protocol, senior officers ranging from the DGP to IGPs should conduct annual inspections across districts to ensure discipline, transparency, and accountability in the policing system.
Timing and Significance
The revival of the system comes amid rising crime rates and recent controversies over police high-handedness and custodial violence. While DGP Y B Khurania could not be reached for comment, a serving SP welcomed the move. “This is a step towards restoring accountability. District SPs and reserve officers will be more alert knowing that senior officers could walk in for surprise checks,” he said.
Criticism from Retired Officers
Some retired officers questioned the absence of the DGP himself from the inspection roster. “Traditionally, DGPs have led inspections, visiting at least one or two districts for comprehensive audits. With the incumbent DGP’s tenure ending on Aug 16, the continuity of this order is uncertain,” a retired DGP said, adding that inspections are ideally conducted between September and March. With monsoon approaching, extensive field visits and parades will be logistically challenging, he noted.
Another former DGP remarked that the credibility of inspections depends on whether findings are acted upon. If inspection notes merely gather dust, the exercise will serve little purpose.
