Rebellion fresh on mind,Naveen replaces DGP

A month after the coup attempt by his former advisor Pyari Mohan Mohapatra,Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday replaced Director General of Police Manmohan Praharaj,a Mohapatra-acolyte,with 1977-batch IPS officer Prakash Mishra.

Mishra,who served as additional DG in National Investigation Agency and as DG of National Disaster Response Force and Civil Defence since 2010,is likely to join on July 6. The state governments request to Centre to relieve Mishra from central deputation has been accepted,said Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik.

Praharaj,who became DGP soon after Kadhamal riots started in 2008,fell out of favour when he reportedly could not inform the CM about the coup attempt planned by Mohapatra on May 29 afternoon.

Unsettled by the rebellion,Naveen is learnt to be preparing the course for cleansing all officers with slight loyalty to Mohapatra. Last month,he transferred Mohapatra-loyalist IPS officers M Akhay and Dayal Gangwar to inconsequential postings.