Bhubaneswar, July 21: A high-level meeting of the Eastern Regional Police Coordination Committee (ERPCC) was held on Tuesday here with the objective of strengthening inter-state coordination to effectively combat organised crime, Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) and other emerging security challenges.

The meeting, held under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs, was chaired by the Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, and attended by the DGPs of Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, along with senior officers from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Central Police Organisations (CPOs) and other senior police officials from the participating States.

Khurania observed that such collaborative platforms are instrumental in strengthening operational synergy, fostering mutual trust and reinforcing the country's internal security architecture.

In his inaugural address, the DGP stated that contemporary security threats such as organised crime, cybercrime, narcotics trafficking, human trafficking and Left-Wing Extremism transcend geographical boundaries and therefore demand a coordinated, technology-driven and intelligence-led response.

He emphasised that no state can effectively address these challenges in isolation and underscored the importance of continuous intelligence sharing, seamless information exchange, adoption of advanced technology and close inter-state cooperation to counter increasingly sophisticated criminal and extremist networks.

The day-long deliberations covered a wide range of issues of strategic importance. Detailed discussions were held on the monitoring and effective rehabilitation of surrendered Left-Wing Extremists, evolving coordinated strategies to curb inter-state narcotics trafficking, strengthening inter-state cooperation to combat cybercrime through real-time intelligence sharing, expediting the transfer and time-bound investigation of Zero FIRs, enhancing railway security, and developing a unified strategy to address the challenge of illegal infiltration.

The participating States also deliberated on strengthening coordinated operations against inter-state criminal networks, improving policing in border areas and enhancing technology-enabled, intelligence-based policing mechanisms.

Recognising the importance of sustained collaboration, the participating states unanimously agreed to institutionalise regular coordination meetings at regular intervals. These meetings will serve as a platform to review progress, share best practices, address emerging security concerns and further strengthen operational coordination among the participating states and central agencies.

Among those present were Crime Branch DG Vinaytosh Mishra, Director (Intelligence) R. P. Koche, ADG (Anti-Naxal Operation) Sanjeeb Panda, ADG (Railways & Coastal Security) Arun Bothra, ADG (Headquarters) Prateek Mohanty with senior officers from the participating states, CAPFs, CPOs and other central agencies.