PURI: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday said a fear-free environment and strong law and order are the foundations of a progressive and prosperous society. Inaugurating newly constructed police infrastructure across the state, including a state-of-the-art police station building at Talabania in Puri district, Majhi said the government is committed to ensuring law and order, security and welfare of every citizen. "A strong law and order system and a fear-free environment form the foundation of any progressive and prosperous society. Strengthening, modernising and developing appropriate infrastructure for our police force is essential to making Odisha a peaceful and progressive state," the chief minister said. Emphasising the welfare of police personnel, he said the government remains committed to meeting their needs and providing them with modern facilities to improve public service delivery. "The role of the police in ensuring public safety and delivering quality services is extremely important. Our government is continuing its efforts to strengthen law and order and ensure the security and welfare of every individual in the state," he said. Majhi said the government is focused on upgrading police infrastructure and strengthening the rule of law. As part of this effort, modern police stations at Brahmagiri and Talabania were dedicated to the public, he said. The chief minister expressed confidence that the new facilities would enhance the efficiency of police personnel and enable them to provide faster and better services to citizens. Praising the dedication of the police force, Majhi said police personnel work tirelessly to protect society and maintain public order. "Their courage, dedication and sense of responsibility are invaluable. They are being provided with the necessary facilities, training and modern infrastructure to improve their performance. These new police stations, equipped with modern technology, will provide a conducive working environment," he said. He said the newly constructed police stations have been equipped with several public-friendly facilities, including ramps for persons with disabilities, barracks, conference halls, suspect and witness examination rooms, wireless communication centres, reception areas, women and child help desks, and round-the-clock CCTV surveillance. Highlighting the importance of a just social order, Majhi said the police department must remain vigilant in maintaining law and order. "In a just system, the guilty must be punished and innocent citizens should be able to live without fear. Public trust in this system is essential, and the role of the state police is crucial in maintaining that confidence," he said. The chief minister urged police personnel to adopt a people-friendly approach while remaining firm against criminals. "The police should be approachable and sensitive towards the public while being strict with offenders. It is your responsibility to enforce the law fairly and effectively," he said. Referring to the achievements of the state police, Majhi said Odisha Police has performed commendably in combating Left-Wing Extremism, maintaining public order and curbing drug trafficking. He noted that the state's conviction rate has improved significantly. "Since the implementation of the new criminal laws, the conviction rate has risen to 87.6 per cent till December last year," he said. At the same time, the chief minister cautioned that isolated incidents involving police personnel could tarnish the image of the force and called for greater vigilance and sensitivity. He said the government is placing special emphasis on the training of police officers and personnel to improve professionalism and service delivery. Describing cybercrime and organised crime as major global challenges, Majhi said law enforcement agencies must proactively adopt new technologies to tackle emerging threats. "I am confident that our police force is capable of meeting these challenges successfully," he said. The chief minister also reiterated the government's commitment to addressing housing issues faced by police personnel. He said steps are being taken to improve police housing facilities so that personnel can perform their duties without stress. Majhi also inaugurated new police housing projects in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri and Jajpur districts. Calling for greater cooperation between citizens and the police, he said building a safe, prosperous and crime-free society is a collective responsibility. "Only when there is mutual trust and partnership between the police and the public can we achieve our developmental goals," he said. Puri MP Sambit Patra said police stations, like hospitals, are places where people seek help during difficult times and stressed the need for police personnel to deal with citizens with empathy. He expressed hope that the new police station building would serve as a people-centric institution responsive to public needs and aspirations. Director General of Police Y B Khurania said the state's policing system has undergone significant reforms under the chief minister's leadership. "This new infrastructure reflects those efforts and will help deliver cleaner, more efficient and quality police services to the public in the coming years," he said.
