Bhubaneswar, May 14: The Odisha Police has initiated a major administrative reshuffle by ordering the withdrawal of armed police personnel who have been serving for years in clerical roles across police establishments and units. Director General of Police (DGP) has directed that all constables deputed from Armed Police Battalions be sent back to their parent battalions by May 31.

The order, issued to all ADGs, IGs, DIGs, and SPs in the state, also mandates that compliance reports be submitted to the IG Personnel within the stipulated deadline. The move comes amid growing criticism over the deployment of armed police personnel in non-operational duties.

The DGP has further instructed the ADG, Special Armed Police, to review staffing patterns at battalion headquarters and ensure that only the minimum required personnel are retained. In another significant decision, heads of police organizations and units have been barred from making staff deployments through verbal orders.

The directive has triggered considerable activity within the State Police Headquarters and other police establishments, where a large number of armed police personnel had reportedly been engaged in clerical assignments such as carrying files, DTP work, and handling correspondence instead of performing law-and-order and operational duties.

According to sources, more than 500 sepoys, constables, and havildars had been working on deputation in different police establishments for nearly 10 to 15 years. The issue drew public attention after a recent report highlighted that armed police personnel were being used for routine office work rather than field duties.

Following the DGP’s strict order, concern and uncertainty have reportedly spread among both officers and deputed personnel who have long been attached to administrative offices.