Suspend cops who refuse to register zero FIR: CM to DGP | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday issued directives to Odisha police, mandating the acceptance of zero FIRs from complainants, regardless of where the crime occurred. He also instructed DGP Y B Khurania to take disciplinary action, including suspension, against police officers who decline to register zero FIRs.
To emphasise his point, Majhi cited a previous incident from his MLA days where a man from his Keonjhar constituency faced difficulties while attempting to file a zero FIR. “A person died mysteriously under the Nayapalli police jurisdiction. When the deceased’s family shifted the body to Keonjhar and approached the local police station, they faced harassment and were directed to register the case in Bhubaneswar,” Majhi said on the sidelines of the inauguration of a new building of Nayapalli police station here on Friday.
The CM stated, “I request the DGP to ensure that the existing provision of the zero FIR system is implemented in the true sense. Victims can report crimes at any police station, irrespective of jurisdiction. DGP should immediately suspend the erring officers who flout the law.”
The zero FIR system allows immediate registration of complaints, which are later transferred to the appropriate police station for investigation. The move aims to prevent delays in crime reporting and ensure prompt action. The DGP assured compliance with the CM’s directive. Official data revealed that Odisha police registered 4,246 zero FIRs between 2015 and 2024.
“Under the new criminal laws that came into effect on July 1, 2024, zero FIR acceptance is mandatory. The same system was prevalent before the introduction of the new criminal laws, though that was not implemented properly,” a senior police officer said. Following the implementation of new criminal laws, zero FIR registrations increased significantly. The statistics showed 483 registrations in 2023, rising to 985 in 2024.
Police officers said that strict instructions have been issued to all police stations regarding adherence to new criminal law provisions. “We are raising awareness of the zero FIR system among the public as well. They can lodge their complaints at any police station,” the police officer said.
To emphasise his point, Majhi cited a previous incident from his MLA days where a man from his Keonjhar constituency faced difficulties while attempting to file a zero FIR. “A person died mysteriously under the Nayapalli police jurisdiction. When the deceased’s family shifted the body to Keonjhar and approached the local police station, they faced harassment and were directed to register the case in Bhubaneswar,” Majhi said on the sidelines of the inauguration of a new building of Nayapalli police station here on Friday.
The CM stated, “I request the DGP to ensure that the existing provision of the zero FIR system is implemented in the true sense. Victims can report crimes at any police station, irrespective of jurisdiction. DGP should immediately suspend the erring officers who flout the law.”
The zero FIR system allows immediate registration of complaints, which are later transferred to the appropriate police station for investigation. The move aims to prevent delays in crime reporting and ensure prompt action. The DGP assured compliance with the CM’s directive. Official data revealed that Odisha police registered 4,246 zero FIRs between 2015 and 2024.
“Under the new criminal laws that came into effect on July 1, 2024, zero FIR acceptance is mandatory. The same system was prevalent before the introduction of the new criminal laws, though that was not implemented properly,” a senior police officer said. Following the implementation of new criminal laws, zero FIR registrations increased significantly. The statistics showed 483 registrations in 2023, rising to 985 in 2024.
Police officers said that strict instructions have been issued to all police stations regarding adherence to new criminal law provisions. “We are raising awareness of the zero FIR system among the public as well. They can lodge their complaints at any police station,” the police officer said.
