Be friend of public, but strict with criminals: CM to police

Bhubaneswar: CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday virtually inaugurated police infrastructure projects worth Rs 195 crore from Puri. The projects include a new building of the Talabania police station in Puri and 658 residential quarters for police personnel in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Jajpur among others.Majhi said the new facilities would boost efficiency and enable police officers to deliver faster and better services to the public. He lauded the force and said that the govt is equipping them with modern resources, training and infrastructure.Directing the force to adopt a people-friendly approach, the CM said: “Be a friend of the public, but strict with criminals. Building a crime-free society is not solely the govt’s responsibility, but a collective resolve of all citizens.”Cautioning that isolated incidents can tarnish the police’s image, Majhi urged the force to remain alert and sensitive. “We are placing special emphasis on proper training for officers and staff,” the chief minister said.Majhi underlined that strong law and order and a fear-free environment are the cornerstones of a progressive society. He reiterated the govt’s commitment to modernising police infrastructure, strengthening the force, and prioritising welfare measures such as housing, so that officers can serve people stress-free.Highlighting achievements, he said that Odisha’s conviction rate has risen to 87.6% since the implementation of new criminal laws. He also flagged cybercrime and organised crime as major threats, stressing the need for technology adoption to tackle them.