Shortly ahead of the February 24 Bijepur Assembly by-election, Padampur Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) laxmi Narayan Panda was transferred as per the directive of the State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), informed Director General of Police (DGP) RP Sharma on Thursday. Panda was attached to the office of IG, Northern Range, Sambalpur. His place of posting will be decided by the Police Establishment Board.
Jharsuguda SDRPO Khirasagar Nayak was posted as the new SDPO of Padampur.
Notably, a BJP delegation led by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had on January 30 submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi demanding transfer of several Government officials, including Panda. “laxmi Narayan Panda and the Inspectors-in-charge of the police stations of Bijepur, Gaisalat and Barpali have been instrumental in foisting false and malafide cases against our workers to dampen their spirits,” the BJP had said in the memorandum.