Odisha by and large peaceful: Whitepaper

Swetaparna Published On : May 10, 2016 at 4:19 PM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 10:

Law and order situation in the state during 2015-16 was by and large peaceful, claimed the Whitepaper of the Home department tabled in the Odisha Assembly today.

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The Whitepaper states that 1, 03,200 cases of crime were registered in the state during the period.

During the period charge sheets were filed in 69,955 cases, the Whitepaper said.

As many as 2,286 cases of rape were registered during 2015-16.

While 54 cases of economic fraud were registered during the period, charge sheets have been filed in 20 cases.

Similarly, 6, 016 dowry-related cases were registered during the period. Out of them 15 cases were found to be true while 35 were found to be false and the probe is on in 2,423 cases, the Whitepaper said.

The Whitepaper claimed that there has been a gradual improvement in Maoist situation in the state. It said 53 Maoists have been arrested and 255 arms seized during the period.

However, Opposition has slammed the government for the rising crime graph in the state.

“Crime is constantly rising in the state. There is a complete breakdown of law and order. Especially, rape cases have gone up very high. In a majority of the cases, the guilty are escaping the punishment which is boosting their confidence level to commit more crimes. The low conviction rate is encouraging them to take the law into their own hands,” commented Narasingha Mishra, Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Assembly.

“The Whitepaper should reflect the real picture and not sing paeans to the Chief Minister. It should tell the reality. This Whitepaper is not based on facts. It’s condemnable,” said Basant Panda leader of the BJP legislature party in his remarks on the Whitepaper.

On the other hand, the ruling BJD was all praise for the police.

“Be it the case of Ramesh Jena or that of Dhalasamant brothers, the police has been successful in nabbing criminals at different places in the state. The state government is making its all out effort to increase conviction in the cases albeit through the existing judicial procedure. Moreover, the government has made efforts for bringing reforms in the criminal justice system,” said Amar Prasad Satpathy spokesperson of the BJD in defence of what has been stated in the Whitepaper.