Sudden reshuffle of 26 IPS officers sparks debate in Odisha

At least 26 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers have been transferred, including two DCPs and an ACP of the Twin City Commissionerate Police. The reshuffle, occurring just five months after the earlier appointments of DCP Jagmohan Meena in Cuttack and DCP Pinak Mishra in Bhubaneswar, has stirred discussions.

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Three young IPS officers have been posted in the Commissionerate Police for the first time amidst this reorganisation, which extends to significant changes within the Crime Branch and intelligence divisions. The abrupt reassignments have prompted speculation about whether the adjustments are aimed at enhancing crime control or are part of a broader strategic initiative to strengthen the Commissionerate Police and Crime Branch.

Second major IPS reshuffle by the new government

This marks the second major IPS reshuffle since the new government assumed office nine months ago. Pinak Mishra, who was serving as DCP Bhubaneswar, has been promoted to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in the Special Task Force (STF). Meanwhile, Jagmohan Meena moves to the new role of DCP Bhubaneswar, with Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo, previously Superintendent of Police (SP) in Bolangir, now the DCP of Cuttack.

Attention has also been drawn to Umashankar Das, who has been promoted to DIG, being reassigned to the Home Guards and Fire Services department. He was previously posted as Additional Commissioner for the Twin City in September last year. The position of Twin City Additional Police Commissioner has been assumed by Narasingha Bhola, formerly the Excise Commissioner.

Three junior IPS officers have received appointments in the Commissionerate Police for the first time. Ankit Kumar Verma, formerly sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of Jeypore, and Amritpal Kaur, SDPO of Padampur, are now Additional DCPs in Bhubaneswar, while Sonali Singh Parmar, SDPO of Bonai (Sundargarh), is now appointed as ACP Bhubaneswar.

The rapid reorganisation – specifically following the relatively recent appointments of DCPs in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar – continues to fuel conjecture about its necessity.

The reassignment of former IGP-Operations Jai Narayan Pankaj as IGP-Intelligence and the repositioning of SM Narvane, the former Director of Printing, Stationary and Publication, as Special DG, OHRC are among the key changes.

Similarly, Sarthak Sarangi, former IGP, SR-Berhampur was transferred and posted as IGP, CID-CB, and B. Gangadhar assumed the new role of Crime Branch DIG. Akhileshwar Singh, the former DIG-Operation transferred and posted as DIG, South Western Range, is also noteworthy.

Additionally, there is a shift with Nagaraj Deverkonda, the former SP of Boudh, moving to Kalahandi and SP Abilash G transferring from Kalahandi to Bolangir.

“Reasons are not usually sought in case of promotions. However, in the parallel transfers, it is understood that discontent for someone results in his/her shifting to elsewhere. Even, some good officers are at times transferred, if ministers want them to be posted at a particular place,” former Chief Secretary Sahadev Sahoo expressed to OTV.

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“The Government might be having a thought behind it. Usually, the administration effects a reshuffle keeping something in mind. Transfers are not carried out without reasons. Some officials were promoted and some others were transferred because they had completed over four years. This could be a probable reason,” former Police DG Sanjeev Marik said.