Eight days after the sensational robbery in the house of a retired High Court Judge here, Twin City Commissioner of Police RP Sharma on Saturday claimed that the police are very close to cracking the case.
Without divulging details, Sharma said a gang of four hardcore criminals are detained and being interrogated from various angles. “All the four are from Odisha and have criminal histories,” he said, adding that further verifications are on.
At least seven to eight dacoits had decamped with unspecified amounts of cash and jewellery from Justice PK Mohanty’s house on May 30 after tying the family members, including the 70-year-old Mohanty, in a room.
While this incident and certain previous ones point to the deteriorating law and order situation in the State, the Odisha High Court in an interim order has suggested measures to strengthen the hands of the Government in maintaining law and order.
Adjudicating a PIl pertaining to the subject, a Vacation Bench of the court has last week directed the Government to form a high-level committee under the Chief Secretary to monitor the law and order situation in the State and review it every month.
The HC has also asked the Government to record entry and exit of each person and vehicle from major towns and cities of the State between 10 pm and 7 am everyday by setting up check-posts at every entry and exit point.
Similarly, the DCPs of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar and the SPs of districts have been asked to initiate proceedings against the Officers-in-Charge of police stations who are not registering complaints of theft, snatching and dacoity.
Directing the DGP to form a high-level committee to initiate proceedings against erring police officers within a reasonable time, the HC said, “The DGP may also consider the aspect of formulating guidelines with the approval of the State Home Department for posting of officers in urban police stations.”
Upon receiving the High Court’s order, Home Department Special Secretary lalit Das on Saturday said the Government is contemplating to put in place all the measures suggested by the High Court before the next hearing of the case scheduled on July 6.