‘UP-like crackdown on criminals’: Odisha Police conducted over 15 encounters in 3 months!

Odisha Police have stepped up their actions against the criminal elements, addressing issues ranging from petty theft to severe infractions in the State. This aggressive stance includes engaging in direct encounters when deemed necessary to ensure public safety.

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A recent incident on the Jharsuguda-Belpahar road illustrates this rigorous approach. Two suspects, identified as Sheikh Ashish and Abhishek Barik, sustained injuries in an encounter described by the police.

The incident occurred in the morning at around 7.30 AM as the two accused were being escorted to a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court. According to police reports, the suspects feigned illness and attempted to seize the officers' weapons, leading to the self-defense response by the police.

Uttar Pradesh-like ‘encounter formula’

Over the past three months, Odisha has reported over 15 encounters as part of an extensive campaign against crime. The Odisha Police appears to be implementing strategies akin to those used in Uttar Pradesh under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, enforcing a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy against criminals in an effort to cleanse the state of such activities.

Efforts to address criminal activities have expanded across various regions in Odisha, including Bhubaneswar, as well as in Angul, Talcher, Rourkela, Sambalpur, and Jharsuguda, highlighting a comprehensive geographic focus.

Recent operations have involved confrontations with a diverse array of offenders, from robbers to cattle traffickers. As the Odisha Police continues this assertive campaign, the effectiveness and ethical considerations of such measures remain a topic of discussion among the public.

“Certainly, the police are trying to create a fear psychosis among the criminals and are taking strong action against them, in a similar vein with the ‘encounter formula’ of UP (Uttar Pradesh) Police,” a former senior police official, Sarat Kumar Sahu said to OTV.

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“Proper and strong legal actions are being taken against the wrongdoers and whoever will break the law would face political action,” Northern Range IG, Himanshu Lal stated.