Bhubaneswar: Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, the 1990 batch IPS officer, who took over as the new DGP of Odisha today has a history of cracking a number of sensational crimes in the State during his tenure in multiple positions.
The seasoned officer who is instrumental in controlling most organised crimes in Odisha is mostly known for his role in the arrest of Dara Singh, the prime accused in the most sensational murder case of Christian Missionary Graham Staines in Keonjhar in 2000. Dara alias Rabindra Pal had become a major headache for the State police after he murdered Staines and his two kids in 1999. The incident had snowballed into a major international issue at that time. He continued to give a slip to the police for almost a year after he committed the crime. However, in the year 2000, Khurania was the Superintendent of Police of Mayurbhanj district. In a dramatic turn of events, a special police team led by Khurania had arrested Dara in Thakurmunda area of Mayurbhanj.
Khurania was informed that Dara was hiding in a dense forest in Thakurmunda on Mayurbhanj-Keonjhar border. The dynamic officer had arranged for a police decoy to trap the fugitive. The decoy posed as an arms dealer and his brief was to convince Singh into buying some arms from him. He succeeded, and early this morning, while the transaction was being conducted, the police party-led by Khurania, pounced on the alleged killer.
The police team including the then SP had walked around 11 kilometres on foot to reach Guhari, 170 km from Baripada, to arrest Singh. Putting the most wanted criminal in the country at that time was one of the most important episodes in Khurania’s career.
Khurania was the Additional Commissioner of Police (Bhubaneswar-Cuttack) when the State was jolted by the murder of Judo coach Biranchi Das by gangster Raja Acharya. Khurania was instrumental in the investigation of Biranchi Das’ murder.
The 1990 batch officer had also a successful tenure as the twin city police commissioner. The commissionerate police had arrested dreaded gangsters Sushant Dhal Samanta and his brother Sushil, notoriously known as ‘D-brothers’ in January 2016 when Khurania was at the helm of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police commissionerate. The officer had played a crucial role in putting behind bars the dreaded gangster brothers who were then seen as a big onslaught on organized crime networks.
In his entire career, Khurania had held several key positions in the police department including SP of Nayagarh, Jajpur, Rourkela, Mayurbhanj and Ganjam districts. He had also held the post of DIG of southern and northern ranges and commissioner of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack.
Recently, the Central government approved the premature repatriation of Khurania, posted as Special DG Border Security Force (BSF), to his parent cadre, Odisha on August 2. The 1990 batch officer has been on Central deputation since 2018.
Khurania, during his service, has received many commendations and rewards. Notable among them are the Governor’s Medal and President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service, Ati Utkrisht Seva Medal and Police Antrik Suraksha Seva Padak.
