Dayal Gangwar Transferred To Home Department OSD Post In Odisha

Senior IPS officer Dayal Gangwar has been transferred and posted as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Home Department by the Odisha government following controversy linked to the Balianta mob-lynching incident and allegations of administrative misconduct. The move comes amid growing scrutiny over his role and alleged conduct during his previous posting.

Gangwar, who was serving as Additional Director General (Communications), came under the spotlight after a Government Railway Police (GRP) constable, Soumya Ranjan Swain (32), was lynched by a mob in Balianta on May 7. The incident triggered public outrage and internal administrative questions, particularly after the victim’s family raised allegations about his work conditions prior to his death.

According to Soumya Swain’s parents, their son had been under severe mental stress while working under Gangwar. They alleged that the senior officer had allegedly assigned him personal duties unrelated to official responsibilities, which they claimed contributed to his deteriorating mental state. The family has also demanded a CBI investigation into both the lynching case and the alleged harassment faced by the constable during his service.

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The controversy intensified further after allegations surfaced that Gangwar had engaged a railway constable for personal work, raising questions about the misuse of official staff. While the government has not issued a detailed public statement on the allegations, the administrative decision to shift the officer is being seen as a significant development in the case.

Meanwhile, the Odisha Home Department also issued a revised transfer order affecting multiple IPS officers. The reshuffle included changes in postings for senior officers, including an exchange in district police leadership roles, reflecting a broader administrative realignment following the earlier transfer list released on May 23.

As part of the revised postings, Parmar Smit Parshottamdas of the 2013 batch, initially designated as Nayagarh SP, was reassigned as Khurda SP. In a reciprocal change, Suvendu Kumar Patra of the 2019 batch, who was earlier posted as Khurda SP, has been moved to Nayagarh as Superintendent of Police. The changes come amid heightened administrative activity within the state police establishment following recent controversies.

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