The Hindu : Front Page : Binoy Behera replaced as CP

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Thursday, May 08, 2008
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Binoy Behera replaced as CP

Staff Reporter

Decision emerges from high-level meet chaired by Naveen Patnaik

This is the second major reshuffle of police officials in 15 days
No connection with Biranchi case, says
Home Department

BHUBANESWAR: The State government on Wednesday removed Binoy Behera as Commissioner of Police of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack twin cities and appointed Inspector-General of Police (Crime Branch) Bijay Kumar Sharma in his place.

A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat here on Wednesday evening decided to transfer Mr. Behera as Inspector-General of Police (Technical) to Police Headquarters. The meeting was attended by Director-General of Police Gopal Chandra Nanda and Home Secretary Tarunkanti Mishra.

The decision to reshuffle key posts was believed to have been taken following the allegation that Mr. Behera had attended a meeting where “conspirators” of the Biranchi Das murder case were present.

This was the second major transfer of high-level police officials of the Commissionerate System within the last fortnight following the sensational murder of Biranchi Das, former coach of child marathoner Buddhia Singh, on April 13. Earlier, three Deputy Commissioners of Police Amitabh Thakur, Soumendra Priyadarshi and P. Shainy had been shifted.

Surendra Panwar, who was in charge IG (northern range), was appointed as IG (Crime Branch).

The Home Department, however, dismissed the views that the transfers were result of the murder controversy. Addressing reporters, Home Secretary said they discussed whole gamut of affairs and it was decided to make some changes as per administrative exigencies.

Earlier in the day, the State police carried out an internal transfer shifting as many as 13 inspectors in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

Meanwhile, Raja Acharya, prime suspect in the murder case, was brought by a special police team to Bhubaneswar from Goa, where he had surrendered on Monday.

Police custody

Acharya was subjected to medical tests. He then was produced before the court of Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate who remanded the accused for five days police custody.

The police had sought 10 days custody.

As the gangster was whisked away from the Biju Patnaik Airport, he yelled at waiting media taking names of controversial IAS officer Priyabrata Patnaik and music video actor Leslie Tripathy.

Mr. Patnaik had earlier been removed as Secretary of Commerce and Transport Department after his name figured in the controversy.

Police tried their best to keep Acharya away from the media.

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