“Communal harmony has been maintained. There was no significant law and order incident on the students, services, industrial, labour and agrarian front. The Maoist scenario in the state has also shown remarkable improvement,” said Naveen in reply on Home and GA&PG demand in the Assembly.

Stating that more than 5,000 candidates have been appointed in Odisha Police and the Prisons Organisation this year, he said clearance has been given to fill up more than 3,300 posts in police and almost a thousand in prisons and fire services.

Under 5T charter, Odisha Police launched Monitoring of Atrocity, National Commission Cases and Assistance to Victims (MANAV) portal in August 2023 to expedite the investigation cases under SC and ST Prevention of Atrocity Act and timely delivery of compensation to the victims, he added.

“We have zero tolerance towards crime and particularly crime against women. We have ensured free, fair, and impartial investigation. However, I am pained to see politicisation of very sensitive cases for narrow vested interests. This is an injustice to the victims of the case, to the committed police persons who work day and night and also to the people of Odisha. Even a lady officer on duty was physically assaulted. This cannot be tolerated in a civilised society,” the chief minister said.