Police Commissionerate system proposed for Greater Berhampur

Odisha government is reportedly examining creation of three more police commissionerates in Berhampur, Sambalpur and Rourkela. Office of the Director General of Police, sources said, had moved the proposal for creation of three more commissioneratesto make focused effort to address law and order challenges in the three major urban centres of the State. At present, Odisha has only one commissionerate of police which has Bhubaneswar and Cuttack under its jurisdiction.

Urban policing

Providing urban policing in these three cities is mulled over keeping in mind that Berhampur and Sambalpur have already been accorded status of Municipal Corporation while Rourkela’s case is under active consideration of the State government.

Berhampur, one of the oldest and largest cities of Odisha, often hits headline for wrong reasons. In view of the dubious crime record of the city, Berhampur was identified Odisha’s first city-based police district. In fact, it is considered hub of illegal arms trade, illicit liquor preparation and gang-war among criminal groups.

Similarly, Rourkela is the State’s first industrial town inhabited by people from different States. In recent times law breakers have been regularly striking important institutions like bank. Even organised gangs comprising criminals from Jharkhand have surfaced. Sambalpur remained the nerve centre of western Odisha having all important institutions around it. Due to presence of industrial pockets around the city, need of city-police system is felt for long.

A top police officer on condition of anonymity said the government need not have to do a much bigger exercise for creation of these police commissionerates. It can be done only by an executive order. Clause 4 of The Urban Police Act 2003 says, “the government may, by notification, create a Police Commissionerate for any area comprising the territorial area of any one or more corporations constituted under the Orissa Municipal Corporation Ordinance, 2003 and may include any other contiguous area as may be specified in the notification.” Although the State government is facing a tough challenge to mobilise huge resources required for creation of additional police posts and building infrastructure, the proposals might be approved early as both assembly and general elections are round the corner.

Source: The Hindu