Fresh from the Nuapada victory, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi is working on multiple fronts simultaneously to take the state forward. His current focus seems to be on development by creating a congenial atmosphere for the same by tightening law and order. Making the state secure for people and those visiting it, he believes, is the way of ensuring development. His work also drew praise from President Draupadi Murmu who addressed the members of the state assembly recently.
More than 17 months into office, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi seems to have strengthened his position both within the party and the government. The massive victory of BJP in the recently concluded Nuapada assembly by-poll has cemented his position as the top leader of the party with enough charisma to pull votes. Nuapada was a test that he passed with flying colours.
Fresh from that victory Majhi is now focusing on development with his government taking some important decisions. The cabinet that recently met under him approved four proposals including a supplementary budget of around Rs. 10,000 crore for the current financial year 2025-26.
Some of the initiatives of the Majhi government also drew praise from President Draupadi Murmu who addressed the state assembly recently. She was full of praise for the Subhadra scheme which she described as a tool for empowerment of women.
The cabinet approved three proposals of the General Administration and Public Grievance department for amendment of combined graduate level and higher secondary recruitment examination for special posts. Earlier, 29 different posts had been included in Schedule-I of the Combined Graduate Level Recruitment Examination for Group-B and Group-C Specialist Posts and Services Rules, 2022.
As per the new provisions prescribed under Rule-3 of the rules, 14 new posts will be included and four existing posts will be excluded in schedule-I for conducting recruitment in combined recruitment examination by the Odisha Staff Selection Commission.
Similarly, after amendment of the Combined Graduate Level Recruitment Examination for Group-B and Group-C of different state cadre posts or services rules, 2022, four new posts will be included in Schedule-1 as per provision prescribed under Rule-3 of the said rules taking the total posts to 24. Earlier, 20 different posts were included in the Schedule-I for combined recruitment examination.
The cabinet also approved amendment of Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level or Equivalent Recruitment Examination for Specialist Posts or Services Rules, 2022. Earlier, 11 different posts were included in the Schedule-I. These are significant decisions with a bearing on governance and its quality.
The law and order front has been tightened with the government recently launching a massive crackdown against cannabis cultivation and its trade beginning with Boudh district where the police destroyed cultivation of the contraband spread over 2,548 acre land in just about a month.
Between October 27 and November 24, the district police destroyed ganja cultivation spread over 2,548.72 acre land. As part of its sustained operation, police destroyed over 23.44 lakh plants and registered 60 cases.
Boudh police’s action is in tune with Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s call for eradication of the ganja trade. Between March 1 and November 24, the police registered 144 cases related to the sale of ganja and arrested 140 traders and peddlers. The cops also seized 25,129 kg of contraband along with Rs 3.38 lakh cash, 101 vehicles, four guns and 12 rounds of live ammunition from the traders and peddlers.
Last year, the district police had registered a total of 129 cases related to ganja trade and arrested 125 offenders. It had seized over 17, 519 kg ganja, Rs 16 lakh cash and 83 vehicles from them.
With chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi focusing on making Odisha drug free and changing its image as a major cannabis producer, police have continued the good work this year and expanded enforcement measures against cultivation of the contraband. In the last two years, Boudh police registered 213 cases, destroying cultivation over 10,470 acre of land and about 1 crore plants.
Boudh SP Rahul Goel said, “Efforts are being made to establish forward and backward linkages of the ganja trade in the district and go beyond state to nab the criminals.”
The individuals involved in the illegal activity are being identified and arrested while financial aspects of the crime are being investigated and assets of the accused frozen by approaching courts and special tribunals, he added.
Equally important has been the push against left wing ultras with the government determined to eliminate the threat by March 2026. Director general of police YB Khurania recently took stock of operational strategy in Kandhamal and Boudh with the district police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). The DGP said operations carried out in the Naxal-affected districts are being reviewed to know the progress and the challenges ahead. “Odisha Police is making all out efforts to achieve the target set by the Union Home minister to eliminate Naxalism by March 2026,” he said.
Khurania said the state government and police have repeatedly requested the ultras to lay down arms and join the mainstream. The surrender and rehabilitation policy is encouraging and the Naxals should take benefit of it, he added. During his visit to Kandhamal and Boudh, the DGP held discussions with ADG and head of anti-Naxal operations Sanjeeb Panda, IG operations Deepak Kumar and the field officers.
Sources said the police have intensified the security measures even as anti-Naxal operations are in full swing in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The major challenge for the police is to flush out the Maoists from the security vacuum areas, they added.
The state police notched up yet another success with the arrest of a key accused in an organised racket that harboured illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and engaged them in unlawful activities. The accused, Sikander Alam alias Seiko, was evading arrest since the raid on Beherampur slum under Jagatsinghpur police limits recently.
“A special team was formed by the police which conducted raids at different places. Seiko, who was frequently changing his locations, was apprehended from Jajpur. He will soon be produced before the court,” said a senior police officer. Seiko’s passport and several other documents were seized during the raid. His younger brother was also arrested.
During spot verification, it was clearly ascertained that Seiko, along with others, had been trafficking, harbouring illegal migrants from Bangladesh by providing them shelter and engaging them in unlawful activities. It was also revealed that some women had been trafficked from outside the state and been subjected to exploitation for a considerable period.
The Jagatsinghpur district administration also demolished multiple residential structures built by suspected Bangladesh nationals on government land illegally. “Seiko’s 10-room structure built on government land has been demolished by the administration. Seven other thatched structures on government land have also been bulldozed by the administration as part of the crackdown.
Officials said they are verifying the routes used by the Bangladeshi infiltrators to enter Odisha. Police said they are probing whether Seiko received foreign funds to run the racket. During the November raids the police seized five swords, one country made pistol and seven sharp-edged weapons from Seiko’s residential building.
The crackdown comes following the Union Home Ministry’s instructions to all states to intensify the drive against undocumented migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has also directed the police and local administrations to take strict legal action against Bangladeshi nationals staying illegally in the state. The Majhi government is, thus, taking care of development as well as the security of its citizens by enhancing vigil on the law and order front.
