Bhubaneswar, Odisha : Acting on the directives of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the Odisha Police Crime Branch organised a one-day workshop on women and child safety at Police Bhawan in Bhubaneswar. Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania inaugurated the event as chief guest and called women and girls the foundation of society.
In his inaugural address, Khurania said protecting women and daughters remains a primary duty of the state police. He added that their role would be crucial in realising the vision of “Vikashit Odisha 2036” and reiterated the commitment to make Odisha a model state for women’s safety.
Khurania urged police officers across ranks—from investigating officers to supervising officers and district SPs—to remain vigilant against crimes like rape, domestic violence, harassment, and cyber abuse. He reminded participants that the Chief Minister has directed the force to adopt a policy of zero tolerance towards crimes against women.
The DGP stressed that all 537 police stations with women and child desks must function effectively. He called for faster investigations and speedy trials in serious cases such as gang rape, ensuring culprits face exemplary punishment. Odisha currently has a conviction rate of just 9.1% in such crimes, according to NCRB data, which Khurania said must improve through timely charge sheets, professional training, and empathetic handling of victims.
Highlighting recent achievements, Khurania noted that Odisha Police secured convictions in record time. In Jharsuguda, a rape accused was sentenced to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment within 55 days, while in Balasore, another case ended in a 20-year sentence in just 67 days. These verdicts, he said, prove that swift justice is possible when investigations remain efficient and victim-centric.
Among the 13 cases where convictions were achieved in a short span, Balasore district accounted for three, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Berhampur for two each, and Jharsuguda, Mayurbhanj, Jagatsinghpur and Ganjam for one each. All these cases involved grave sexual offences, and the swift verdicts sent a strong message of deterrence.
To curb trafficking, the Crime Against Women and Children Wing (CAW & CW) has set up 37 Anti-Human Trafficking Units across the state. More than 100 police stations are now led by women officers to ensure sensitive handling of cases. Cyber patrolling and social media monitoring have also been intensified to prevent circulation of objectionable content.
During the event, DGP Khurania honoured SPs, investigating officers, supervising officers, and government lawyers from 13 districts with commendation certificates for securing convictions in heinous cases of sexual assault, particularly against minors.
The workshop saw participation from Uttar Pradesh DGP Renuka Mishra, academic experts from Utkal University and National Law University, senior state officials, and civil society members. Speakers highlighted the critical role of women in shaping society and underlined the importance of systemic reforms to ensure safety and justice.
At the end of the event, IG (Women and Child Crime Wing) S. Saini delivered the welcome address, while IG (Crime Branch) Dr. Sarthak Sadangi extended the vote of thanks.
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