ASP,Recommended for Republic Day 2027 Police Medal; 2012 Service Record Draws Attention(?)

Manoj  Kanta Dash,Odishabart

Berhampur, September12, 2026:A recommendation by the Superintendent of Police, Berhampur, for the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service for Republic Day 2027 has brought renewed public attention to the service record of Sri Alok Kumar Jena, OPS-I, Additional SP, Berhampur, particularly his role in a 2012 police custodial-death controversy.

According to an official communication dated September 5, 2026, issued by the SP, Berhampur, Jena’s name appears at Serial No. 1 among five police personnel recommended for consideration for the prestigious honour.

The communication, however, is a recommendation and not a final award notification. The final decision rests with the competent authorities after scrutiny of the prescribed service records and eligibility requirements.

Five Personnel Recommended

The September 5 communication, addressed to the Chief District Medical Officer, Ganjam, sought medical/fitness certificates in connection with the proposed award process.

The five personnel named in the communication are:

Alok Kumar Jena, OPS-I, Additional SP, Berhampur

Priyas Ranjan Chhotray, OPS, SDPO, Berhampur

Padma Charan Bhatta, IIC, B. Traffic Police Station

Atithi Charan Nayak, SI, Nuapada O.P.

Sunil Kumar Parida, ASI, Badabazar Police Station

The document establishes that the names were recommended. It does not establish that the medal has already been approved or awarded.

2012 Saheed Nagar Incident

Jena’s service record also includes an episode that came under departmental and judicial scrutiny during his tenure as Inspector-in-Charge of Saheed Nagar Police Station, Bhubaneswar, in 2012.

Twenty-seven-year-old Kuldeep Mohapatra died on June 5, 2012, after being brought to the police station following an incident near the RTO area.

At the time, the police version was that Mohapatra had been assaulted by members of the public before being brought to the police station. His family, however, alleged assault in police custody and questioned whether he had received timely medical attention.

Jena was subsequently moved from Saheed Nagar Police Station during the investigation. The move was ordered by the Commissioner of Police with the stated purpose of ensuring an impartial probe.

High Court and Inquiry Findings

The matter later came under judicial scrutiny. Records available to indicate that the inquiry and court proceedings raised concerns regarding the handling of Mohapatra after he was brought to the police station.

prima facie negligence by police officers, including failure to ensure timely medical examination and appropriate handling of the deceased. I

 The judicial finding that Jena was guilty of custodial killing(?).

The departmental proceedings connected with the matter were subsequently concluded in 2025, according to last information.

The relevance of those proceedings to the present medal recommendation would depend on the final departmental order and the applicable award rules.

Subsequent Police Career

The 2012 controversy did not end Jena’s career in the police establishment. He continued in service and subsequently held a number of responsibilities.

Available records show that:

On March 18, 2024, Jena was associated with the Odisha Police training establishment as DSP/Course Director, in connection with the training of Cadet Sub-Inspectors.

Before his Berhampur posting, he served as Additional SP, Bolangir.

During a police reshuffle in October 2025, he was transferred and posted as Additional SP, Berhampur.

He has subsequently continued to discharge supervisory responsibilities as a senior police officer in Berhampur.

These subsequent postings and responsibilities are matters of official service record and indicate that he continued to remain in the police establishment after the 2012 episode.

The competent authorities will make the final determination after considering the prescribed records, eligibility conditions and other relevant particulars.

Accordingly, the present report does not state that Jena is ineligible for the award. Nor does it pronounce him guilty of any offence.

The central issue is whether all relevant records have been placed before and examined by the competent authority before the final decision is taken.

Odishabarta Seeks Transparency

Odishabarta has no intention of prejudging either the officer or the final medal decision also no ill intention.

The purpose of this report is to place before readers the available official information concerning the recommendation and the documented background of an earlier episode in Jena’s service career.

If the competent authorities have examined the complete service record and found him eligible under the applicable rules, that decision will be the appropriate basis for the final award.

At the same time, if any earlier departmental findings, orders or other service-record matters are relevant under the medal guidelines, transparency requires that their consideration form part of the prescribed assessment..

The larger question

The question, therefore, is not one of declaring guilt or innocence, but of transparency in the selection process.

Before a prestigious national police honour is finally approved, have all relevant aspects of the officer’s service record—including the findings and final outcome of the 2012 proceedings—been properly examined in accordance with the applicable rules?

The answer rests with the competent authorities responsible for the final medal-selection process.

This version is stronger journalistically because it puts the documented 2012 findings in context without converting them into a claim of criminal guilt, while also making clear that the 2026 letter is only a recommendation.

SOURCE;  web Odisha Police.,Google.