Police, Army meet after Pahalgam terror attack

Bhubaneswar: In light of India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack, the city police and Indian Army conducted a crucial coordination meeting at Bhubaneswar on Monday to address potential emergency situations.
The meeting, a first-ever by the commissionerate police, was particularly relevant considering the nationwide outcry over an incident at Bhubaneswar's Bharatpur police station in Sept last year, where some police officers allegedly assaulted an Army officer and sexually abused his fiancée.
"The meeting was aimed at fostering seamless coordination and understanding each other's functioning, responsibilities, power and duties under the law. Coordination between the civil police and armed forces is necessary," commissioner of police S Dev Datta Singh told TOI.
The meeting was attended by Army officers Lt Col Rajendra Singh, Col Nihar Kuanr, Col K G Mohanty and Col Naresh Kumar, among others.
A police officer who attended the meeting said, "Even though there is no panic situation now, our focus is to strengthen emergency preparedness to thwart any potential danger. After the Pahalgam incident, we have stepped up our vigilance for the protection of vital installations. Coordination between the Army and civil police is need of the hour."
The meeting addressed the existing standard operating procedure (SOP) for police interactions with defence personnel. This SOP requires police officers to maintain respectful behaviour towards defence personnel visiting police stations with complaints. The SOP stipulated that police officers should address defence personnel's concerns promptly, ensuring swift provision of necessary legal and logistical assistance.