Odisha Remained Peaceful Despite Registering 1.03 Lakh Cases In 2015

BHUBANESWAR: The overall law and order situation in Odisha remained peaceful even as a total of 1,03,200 cognizable offences were registered in 2015, said the white paper submitted in the state assembly on Tuesday.

 According to the white paper, as many as 1473 murder cases, 2,286 rape, 486 dacoities, 1787 loots, 4,046 snatching and 10,055 theft cases were registered last year.

Besides, 2,935 fraud, 1,976 riots, 54 antisocial activities, 6,016 dowry, 76 suicides due to dowry torture, 3,634 dowry torture cases and 1,698 family dispute cases have been registered in 2015, said the white paper.

It said that as many as 2,504 cases of torture of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people were recorded in 2015 while charge-sheets have been filed against 877 cases.

The white paper also claimed that there was a progressive improvement in the overall Left Wing Extremism (LWE) situation in the state in 2015 in terms of decline in the intensity of Maoists activities and its mass popular support at ground level.

 It said that the Naxal situation in 11 districts in the state had improved marginally.

While there was a substantial improvement in the situation in districts like Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Sambalpur, Deogarh and Sundargarh, the situation remained challenging in parts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Nuapada, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Nayagarh, Rourkela and Bargarh districts.

72 LWE incidents were reported in the state in 2015 involving the death of 26 civilians, 4 security personnel and 9 hardcore LWE cadres. Proactive action taken by the security forces resulted in the arrest of 53 LWE cadres, recovery of 255 weapons, 168 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and a large quantity of explosives, said the white paper.

Besides, 64 LWE cadres were surrendered in the state during the period, it added.

According to the white paper, some activity and movement of terrorists and jihadi organisations have been noticed in Odisha.

The white paper said the police had arrested Ishwar Chandra Behera, a contractual photographer of ITR, Chandipur on charges of spying and transmitting information of ITR, Chandipur and Wheeler Island, Dhamara through his mobile phone.

Besides, one Ramachandran Subhas was arrested for being involved in Puri serial train burning cases and his suspected involvement with some terrorist outfit is under investigation.

Further, in a joint operation with Odisha police, Delhi Police special cell arrested on Abdul Rehman in Cuttack for his suspected link with terrorist organisations like Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and running an unregistered Madrasa where he was reportedly aiming to radicalise Muslim youth, said the white paper.