Bhubaneswar: A 1990-batch IPS officer, Yogesh Bahadur Khurania assumed the charge of Odisha’s 38th Director General of Police (DGP) on Friday.
YB Khurania took charge from his 1990 batchmate and outgoing Odisha DGP in charge Arun Kumar Sarangi at the State Police Headquarters in Cuttack. Khurania was given the guard of honour as he took charge as DGP and Head of the Police Force.
Earlier today, the state government appointed YB Khurania as DGP & Head of Police Force. “On recommendation of the UPSC and in the interest of public service, Shri YB Khurania, IPS (RR : 1990) on repatriation from Central Deputation is appointed as Director General of Police (Head of Police Force), Odisha.” read a notification issued by the Home Department.
Previously serving as the Special Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), Western Command in Chandigarh, Khurania was repatriated to his parent cadre in Odisha on August 2.
YB Khurania, known for his significant contributions in various key roles, succeeded Arun Kumar Sarangi as the head of the state police force, a position Sarangi had held since December 2023.
For his distinguished service, Khurania has received numerous accolades, including the Governor’s Medal and the President’s Police Medal.
He joined the BSF as IG at the Frontier headquarters in South Bengal in 2018 and was promoted to Special Director General (Western Command) in July 2021, serving until his recent repatriation. Before his central deputation, he served as the Police Commissioner of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
Khurania has also held the positions of range DIG/IG for the Central, Southern, and Northern Ranges, Inspector General of Anti-Maoist Operations, and Special Director of State Vigilance.
Notably, Khurania played a pivotal role in the arrest of Dara Singh during his tenure as DIG.
Dara Singh, charged with the triple murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two young sons, Phillip (10) and Timothy (seven), was sentenced to death by the CBI court in 2003. The Orissa High Court later reduced the sentence to life imprisonment in 2005, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court in 2011.
The brutal murder of Staines and his sons, who were burnt alive in their station wagon in Manoharpur village, Keonjhar district, on the night of January 22, 1999, caused nationwide and international outrage.
