In a significant administrative reshuffle aimed at strengthening Odisha’s anti-insurgency apparatus, senior IPS Sanjeeb Panda (1994-batch) has been appointed as the Additional Director General (ADG), Anti-Naxal Operations with immediate effect. Mr. Panda, who was serving as ADG, Training and Director of the Biju Patnaik State Police Academy (BPSPA), will now simultaneously oversee the Special Intelligence Wing (SIW) and report directly to the Director General & Inspector General of Police, Odisha.
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Interim Leadership at Police Academy
In Mr. Panda’s absence at BPSPA, Mr. Anup Kumar Sahoo, IPS (2006-batch), who is currently posted as Inspector General of Police (IGP), Training, has been assigned the role of interim Director of the Academy until further orders.
DIG-Level Post Swaps to Strengthen Field Coordination
As part of the same notification, two DIG-level officers have also been transferred in a strategic post swap:
- Mr. Akhileshvar Singh, IPS (2009-batch), who was serving as Deputy Inspector General (DIG), South Western Range (SWR), Koraput, has been transferred to DIG, Special Intelligence Wing (SIW), Bhubaneswar.
- Dr. Kanwar Vishal Singh, IPS (2010-batch), formerly DIG, SIW, will take over as DIG, SWR, Koraput, replacing Mr. Akhileshvar Singh.
Focus on Counterinsurgency and Intelligence Synergy
These high-level postings, formalised under Home Department notification No. 28794/IPS dated July 9, 2025, are strategically aimed at improving intelligence gathering, coordination, and operational efficiency, particularly in Naxal-affected zones such as Koraput. The reassignment of experienced officers like Mr. Panda and the swap between the DIGs are expected to bolster Odisha’s counterinsurgency operations and provide a renewed thrust to internal security.
