Utkal Ranjan Sahoo, acting director general of police, has been appointed as regular director general of police for a fixed term of two years. The department of personnel has issued order to this effect on Saturday.
Sahoo, a 1988 batch IPS officer, was serving as commandant general of home guards with additional charge of director general (head of police force), has been elevated to the highest pay grade of IPS level 17 in the pay matrix (Rs 2,25,000) in the Indian Police Service. Now Sahoo will serve for fixed two years irrespective of his date of superannuation which is scheduled in June this year.
Utkal Ranjan Sahoo is the senior most officer
Utkal Ranjan Sahoo replaced Umesh Mishra, a 1989 batch officer, who took voluntary retirement with more than 11 months of service left. He was made DGP on October 27, 2022 for two years. But he gave way to Utkal Ranjan Sahoo in between when the BJP government comes into power.
Utkal Ranjan Sahoo is the senior most officer in the seniority list. He is close to BJP and has been boss of intelligence when Vasundhara Raje was the chief minister. In Congress government though he had been given cold postings.
Sahoo is an efficient officer
Even his detractors say that Sahoo is an honest and upright officer. He is officer with high credentials and higher intellect. His posting as director general of police is completely non controversial and acceptable to all officers as they all are junior to him. When Umesh Mishra was made DGP, he superseded two officers including Sahoo to reach the position.
Challenged ahead for Sahoo
Utkal Ranjan Sahoo has a big challenge ahead for police. Rajasthan figures top in rape cases and atrocities against women. So Sahoo has to really work hard to improve the law and order in the state. The new BJP government is also focusing to improve the crime situation in the state. Under the leadership of Sahoo, Rajasthan police is bound to do wonders.
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