DGP Pledges Zero Tolerance on Crimes Against Women

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Police on Tuesday organised a one-day workshop on women and child protection at the Police Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, in line with the Chief Minister’s directive to strengthen safety measures.

Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, attending as chief guest, stressed that the primary duty of the police is to ensure the safety of women and girls across the state. He reiterated the government’s commitment to making Odisha a model state for women’s safety and underlined the policy of zero tolerance towards crimes against women, as directed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

The workshop focused on faster investigations, better functioning of Women and Children Desks at police stations, and improving conviction rates in cases of crimes against women. Currently, Odisha’s conviction rate in such cases stands at 9.1%, a figure the DGP said must be improved through strengthened investigations, specialised training, and enhanced victim support.

Highlighting recent initiatives, Khurania noted the establishment of Anti-Human Trafficking Units and the appointment of women officers as heads of police stations to boost confidence in law enforcement.

During the programme, the DGP also felicitated officers from 13 districts for their achievements in securing convictions in rape cases involving minors. In several instances, courts handed down rigorous imprisonment of 20 years or more, with convictions secured within record timeframes of just 55 and 67 days.

The conference was attended by Uttar Pradesh DGP Renuka Mishra, Utkal University Professor Dr. Mitali Chinara, National Law University Professor Suman Das Bhattamishra, and Dr. Sujata Mishra, Director, Health and Family Welfare Department.