Bhubaneswar: Reshuffle of superintendents of police in 10 districts in the aftermath of law and order issues across the state has sparked a political blame game, with opposition BJD and Congress accusing the govt of failing to maintain law and order, drawing a sharp rebuttal from the BJP, which reiterated its “zero-tolerance” policy against criminals.BJD MLA (Kendrapada) Ganeswar Behera alleged that police actions have been politically influenced. “Criminals have no fear of law and police. In some cases, only lower-rung personnel are punished whereas senior officers are shielded,” he alleged, indirectly targeting senior IPS officers of the commissionerate police for escaping accountability in the recent lynching of a railway constable in Balianta.Former Congress state president Niranjan Patnaik echoed similar concerns, citing Saturday’s alleged attack on the convoy of BJD MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain in Tigiria block of Cuttack district. “People in the state are spending sleepless nights over rising crimes. Unless the govt takes action against criminals and erring police officers, law and order will further worsen,” Patnaik warned.Dismissing the criticisms as politically motivated, Babu Singh, BJP MLA from Ekamra-Bhubaneswar, accused rivals of sensationalising crime incidents for social media traction. “The opposition parties want to take political mileage by sharing crime incidents online. Their objective is to score likes and shares. But their actions are spreading fear among citizens,” Singh said.BJP further alleged that during Naveen Patnaik’s 24-year rule, criminals enjoyed immunity, whereas under incumbent chief minister Mohan Majhi’s leadership, offenders are being arrested within 24 to 48 hours.The political blame game comes in the wake of two shocking incidents — the Balianta lynching of a railway constable in front of police personnel, and the public assault on a man and his girlfriend in Berhampur. During the review of the state’s law and order — thrice in the past one month — CM Majhi instructed police to act tough against criminals and instil fear of law enforcement.
