SP Jharsuguda Gundala Reddy Raghavendra Selected Among Fame India–Asia Post’s 25 Prominent Police Officers of India

Jharsuguda: Gundala Reddy Raghavendra, IPS, Superintendent of Police, Jharsuguda, has been selected by Fame India–Asia Post among the 25 Prominent Police Officers of India, recognising his outstanding contribution to police leadership, anti-Naxal operations, crime control, law and order, technology-driven policing and community engagement.

A 2019-batch IPS officer of the Odisha cadre, Raghavendra has served in challenging field assignments as SDPO Balliguda, SP Nuapada and presently SP Jharsuguda.

During his tenure as SP, Nuapada, a strategically sensitive Left Wing Extremism-affected district bordering Chhattisgarh, he played a key role in strengthening intelligence-led anti-Naxal operations and inter-state coordination. Sustained operations in the difficult Nuapada–Chhattisgarh border region resulted in the neutralisation of 16 Naxals.

His leadership and contribution to anti-Naxal operations were recognised with the Union Home Minister’s Medal. He was also conferred the prestigious DGP’s Disc Award for his distinguished contribution to policing.

During the same tenure, he successfully conducted elections in LWE-affected Nuapada district, ensuring peaceful polling through advance security planning, intelligence coordination, area domination, strategic deployment, protection of polling personnel and confidence-building measures in vulnerable areas.

As SP, Jharsuguda, Raghavendra has adopted a policing strategy combining strong enforcement, technology, visible policing and citizen-centric service delivery. Sustained operations have been undertaken against organised crime, illegal firearms, narcotics, illicit liquor, property offences, cybercrime and economic offences, including successful detection of several interstate and serious crimes.

Technology-driven policing has been given special emphasis through CCTV surveillance, cybercrime investigation, digital investigative tools and technology-assisted crime detection. The Smart Auto Tracking System, based on QR identification of autos and taxis, was introduced to enhance passenger safety and accountability.

Under Operation NETRA and visible-policing initiatives, night patrolling, foot and motorcycle patrolling, execution of pending warrants, hotel checks and surveillance of banks, ATMs, jewellery establishments and other vulnerable locations have been strengthened across the district.

Special focus has also been placed on cybercrime and narcotics. Jharsuguda Police has acted against online financial fraud, APK/e-challan fraud, social-media offences and mule accounts, while facilitating freezing and refund of defrauded money in appropriate cases. Sustained enforcement has also resulted in significant seizures of ganja, illegally trafficked cough syrup and action against illicit liquor networks.

Community policing has remained an integral part of his approach through Aama Police Samitee, cyber-awareness campaigns, senior-citizen outreach, student interactions, mobile recovery programmes and grievance redressal initiatives.

Being a major industrial, mining, transport and aviation hub, Jharsuguda presents diverse policing challenges. The district police have effectively managed major VIP/VVIP movements, festivals, processions, industrial sensitivities and important law-and-order situations through advance planning, intelligence coordination and effective force deployment.

According to Fame India–Asia Post, the nationwide selection evaluates officers on their field experience, leadership capabilities, decision-making in challenging situations, crime control, law-and-order management, citizen services, police modernisation, innovation and contribution towards strengthening public confidence in the police.

The selection of Gundala Reddy Raghavendra, IPS, among the country’s 25 Prominent Police Officers recognises a policing career spanning anti-Naxal operations, election security in LWE-affected areas, technology-driven crime control, cyber policing, visible policing and community-oriented leadership.

Raghavendra dedicated the recognition to the officers and personnel who have worked alongside him in different assignments, acknowledging their courage, professionalism, teamwork and commitment to public service.