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Orissa urges EC to review bar on DGP's transfer

The Orissa government today urged the Election Commission to review its order barring the transfer of state Director General of Police Dilip Kumar Mahapatra till the election process concludes on October 10.

Orissa Chief Secretary Sahdev Sahoo met Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill in this regard. Later, Sahoo told reporters that the commission would consider the state government's appeal.

The EC had on September 5 turned down the Orissa government's plea to allow Mahapatra's transfer since the state was in the midst of an election and because the DGP was a "key functionary".

In its order, the commission also asserted that key functionaries like chief secretaries, home secretaries and DGPs were not to be disturbed in any manner till the poll process was over.

The Orissa government had on september four decided to revert Mahapatra to the post of additional director-general of the Home Guards and fire services following a spurt of attacks on minority communities in the state.

Dr Bana Bihari Panda, DGP, Home Guards and fire services, had been named as the new police chief.

Sahoo indicated that the state government decision was prompted by the Centre's refusal to accept the state government's proposal to create a third post of DGP. The EC, in its September 5 order, had said that if necessary, the central government could be requested to have a short extension for Mahapatra regularised.

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