Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday inaugurated the new SOG Training cum Briefing Hall along with a state-of-the-art Counter Terrorism Training Complex at Chandaka, marking a significant step towards strengthening the operational capabilities of the Special Operation Group (SOG).
The newly inaugurated training and briefing hall has the capacity to train nearly 400 SOG personnel at a time.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister also inaugurated several police infrastructure projects across the state, including 16 police station buildings in 16 districts, 70 residential quarters, office buildings, barracks, armouries and administrative buildings.
These initiatives, he said, reflect the state government’s commitment to building a strong and modern policing system.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister asserted that there is no place for violence in a democratic system. He stated that the government is firmly determined to act with utmost strictness against organisations and individuals involved in violence.
At the same time, he appealed to extremists to abandon violence, surrender, and join the mainstream of society. He urged them to become partners in the state’s development journey and assured them of full government support for rehabilitation and reintegration.
Highlighting the role of the Special Operation Group, the Chief Minister said that SOG’s contribution to tackling the Maoist problem, which has persisted in the state for more than three decades, has been unique and invaluable.
He noted that Odisha is moving steadily towards meeting the March 2026 deadline set by the Central Government to eliminate Left Wing Extremism from the country. The recent mass surrender of 22 Maoists in Malkangiri district, he said, is an encouraging and positive development in this direction.
The Chief Minister also announced a significant enhancement in the risk allowance for SOG and other personnel engaged in anti-Naxal operations, effective from December 2025.
Officers of the Special Operation Group directly deployed in anti-Naxal operations will now receive a maximum monthly risk allowance of Rs 25,000. Subedars and Deputy Subedars will receive Rs 24,000 per month, Havildars Rs 20,000 per month, and Constables and Sepoys Rs 16,000 per month.
He further stated that SOG, AET and RC officers and staff who are not directly engaged in operations but are deployed in training or other duties will be entitled to a maximum monthly allowance of Rs 12,000. District Volunteer Force personnel will receive up to Rs 10,000 per month, while Special Intelligence Wing personnel will be eligible for a maximum of Rs 20,000 per month.
Speaking about strengthening the police force, the Chief Minister said the state government has taken several major steps to make the police more capable and responsive. These include the establishment of three Odisha Special Striking Force battalions, three Odisha Industrial Security Force units, ten new ODRAF units, a dedicated Traffic and Road Safety Wing, twenty-one Cyber and Economic Offences police stations, and the creation of a new police district at Rairangpur. In addition, the government has approved the creation of 15,326 new posts in the police department.
