Sanjeeb Panda Appointed ADG, Anti-Naxal Operations in Odisha

In a significant bureaucratic reshuffle, senior IPS officer Sanjeeb Panda has been appointed as the Additional Director General (ADG) in charge of Anti-Naxal Operations in Odisha. The appointment was confirmed through an official notification issued by the Home Department on Wednesday.

Panda, who currently holds the position of ADG, Training and also serves as the Director of the Biju Patnaik State Police Academy (BPSPA), will now shoulder additional responsibilities. As per the notification, he will oversee both the Special Intelligence Wing (SIW) and the state’s anti-Naxal operations — two crucial arms in Odisha’s internal security and counter-insurgency framework.

Known for his disciplined service and strategic leadership, Panda’s elevation to this dual role is seen as a move to strengthen the state’s efforts against left-wing extremism. His experience in intelligence and training is expected to bring synergy in operational planning and field execution.

Meanwhile, Anup Kumar Sahoo, a 2006-batch IPS officer currently serving as Inspector General of Police (IGP), Training, will continue as the Director of BPSPA until further orders.

The reshuffle comes amid a renewed focus on intensifying anti-Naxal operations in parts of southern and western Odisha, where sporadic insurgent activity has been reported in recent months.