Newly-appointed in-charge DG of Police Satyajit Mohanty, who, in an unprecedented manner took charge to head the State police late on Wednesday night on an interim arrangement, said on Thursday that he would ensure proper policing arrangements until the newly-appointed DGP Abhaya takes charge.
“My present assignment as DGP is an interim arrangement by the State Government till the newly-appointed DGP is here. I am thankful to the Government for reposing faith on me. With the help and assistance of other officers, we will maintain law and order,” Mohanty, who also took charge as the Director of Police Intelligence on the day, said.
Notably, the Government lat on Wednesday night effected a major reshuffle in the higher echelons of IPS officers replacing incumbent DGP Bijay Kumar Sharma with his batch-mate Abhaya, a State-cadre IPS officer currently serving as Director of the Hyderabad-based National Police Academy on a Central deputation. Both Sharma and Abhaya are 1984-batch IPS officers.
Sources said the State Government has, in the meantime, requested the Union Government to relieve Abhaya so that he takes charge of his new assignment in the State at the soonest. Sources also said 57-year-old Abhaya is likely to be here by this weekend or early next week to take charge of his new assignment.
Soon after the notification of the reshuffle was issued around 10 pm on Wednesday and it was learnt that Mohanty, a 1988-batch IPS officer, was asked to take charge from Sharma immediately; movements started at the police headquarters here for a midnight transfer of charges. Neither Sharma nor Mohanty turned up to the headquarters; and all formalities were completed at their respective residences at around midnight.