BHUBANESWAR: In a significant development, the Odisha Government on Saturday shifted Director General of Police Prakash Mishra and appointed 1981 batch officer Sanjeev Marik as the new police chief of the State.
Marik was Special DG (Headquarters) and was elevated to the top post as he was next in the seniority list. In fact, he was the only one in the 1981 batch of IPS officers.
The 1955 born officer, who hails from Jharkhand’s Goda, held top positions in Odisha Police.
He headed the anti-Naxal operations of the State and was IG (Headquarters). During the initial periods of his career, he served as SP of Berhampur, Balangir and Bhubaneswar. He was also DIG of Berhampur Range.
Mishra, meanwhile, has been posted as Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Odisha State Road Transport Corporation.
The 1977 batch officer’s shifting comes amidst reports of his being selected for the position of Special Secretary, Internal Security with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
He was also reportedly in the run for the position of Special Director, CBI.
In fact, the State Government had cleared his deputation to the Centre in 2013 only to revoke it earlier this year on the grounds that the State is short of IPS officers.
Meanwhile, Manoj Chhabra, the 1988 batch IPS officer, has been posted as ADG, Human Rights Protection Cell.