By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK: The appointment of 2004 batch IPS officer , man from Uttar Pradesh, Ashish Singh as Excise Commissioner, has sent a shock wave among illegal liquor mafias in Odisha. Singh, who fought against, dreaded outlawed leftwing Maoists during his initial IPS Career in the State, will find it very easy to crack the unholy nexus of illicit liquor trade from urban to rural areas in the State, sources said. IPS officer Singh is one among the blue eyed officer of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after DS Kuttey and Amitabh Thakur and many more. IPS officer Singh is being considered as an encounter specialist in anti-Maoists operations.
Singh, who enjoys DIG rank and serving at Central Range Cuttack, became first IPS to man the Excise Directorate, replacing 2005 batch IAS AK Manik. Excise Directorate which normally occupied by IAS officers will now from onwards will be under control of an IPS officer. After Works Department, where Naveen Patnaik led Government posted an IAS officer of 2002 batch, Dr Krishan Kumar as Secretary by surpassing Engineers for the said post, Singh became second officer to man a different Department .
The appointment of IPS officer Singh, seems, intended to revitalise the State Excise Enforcement System, which was hit by corruption and mal functioning. Singh, known for his overdrive on enforcement of Law has been roped in by the State Government as there is requirement of aggressive enforcement measures to prevent illicit trade of liquor and to stop clandestine operations. Department of Excise is a revenue earning department, role of Excise Commissionerate is more important as the State Government wants to mop up more revenue from the sector.With Singh at the helm of affairs, Excise Department is expected to launch a special drive to flush out illegal liquor trade in the State.
