Dhenkanal, August 12: Prayers were offered at the historic Kapilash shrine in Dhenkanal seeking the appointment of senior IPS officer Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi as the next Director General of Police (DGP) of Odisha.

The Kapilash Suraksha Parishad and the Sevayat Sangha offered prayers before Lord Sri Shri Chandrasekhar Jiu for Sarangi, a 1990-batch IPS officer who currently serves as Director General of Fire Services and Home Guards.

As part of the prayer programme, the sevayats of Kapilash lit lamps at the shrine and prayed for Sarangi’s good health, bright future and the opportunity to take on greater responsibilities in the service of the state. Water was also offered to the deity as part of the rituals.

The Kapilash Suraksha Parishad said Sarangi is a capable, experienced and dedicated police officer who has served the state and the country for several years. His administrative skills, leadership qualities, sensitivity towards the public and commitment to duty have earned him recognition as an accomplished officer, it said.

The Parishad also described Sarangi as a distinguished son of Dhenkanal and said his appointment to the state’s top police post would be a matter of pride for the people of Dhenkanal as well as Odisha.

The prayer programme comes amid growing interest and controversy over the selection of Odisha’s next police chief. A meeting of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) selection committee is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on Thursday to shortlist candidates for the post. A public interest litigation (PIL) has also been filed in the Supreme Court challenging aspects of the selection process, with an urgent hearing expected.

The development follows the state government’s decision on Monday to promote 1994-batch IPS officers Sanjeeb Panda and Yashwant Jethwa to the rank of Director General. The move paved the way for the selection of the next state police chief.

Earlier, based on seniority, Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi, Sushant Nath and R.P. Koche were among the officers considered for the post. However, Sushant Nath’s name was subsequently dropped, while the government reportedly brought Sanjeeb Panda into consideration.

Senior advocate P. Chidambaram has filed a PIL in the Supreme Court in connection with the matter. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana is scheduled to hear the case.

Following Thursday’s UPSC meeting, a three-member panel of recommended candidates is expected to be sent to the Odisha government. The state government will then select one officer from the panel for appointment as the new DGP of Odisha.

The final decision on who will head the Odisha Police is therefore likely to attract considerable attention, with Dr Sarangi remaining among the names being discussed for the top post.