Special Operation Group (Odisha)
| Special Operation Group SOG | |
|---|---|
| Agency overview | |
| Formed |
|
| Employees | 3,000 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Odisha, India |
 | |
| Map of Odisha Police Department's jurisdiction | |
| Size | 60,160 square miles (155,800 km2) |
| Population | 41,947,358 |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Cuttack, Odisha |
| Parent agency | Odisha Police |
| Child agencies | |
| As of July 2018 | |
The Special Operation Group (SOG) is an Indian elite paramilitary unit operating under the Odisha Police (OP). The force specializes in neutralizing terrorists, insurgents and extremists.[1] They are trained to execute rapid action under any circumstance; these are highly trained for field craft and jungle warfare as well.
Mission
The Special Operation Group (SOG) was formed in August 2004, under the Home Department of the Government of Odisha with the main objective of neutralizing any terrorist, insurgent, extremist groups operating in Odisha.[1]
Organisation
Headquarters
- Odisha State Police Headquarters, Cuttack
- Odisha Special Intelligence Wing (SIW), Bhubaneswar
The Special Operation Group, initially in 2004, had 543 active posts, but by 2009 it had grown to 1,370 personnel.[2] In 2018, former Director General of Police (Odisha) Sanjeev Marik disclosed that the force consisted of 3000 active personnel.[3]
Training
They receive training at SOG Training Centre in Chandaka, Bhubaneswar and also from the army base in Jabalpur.[4]
Recruitment in the force isn't direct, the personnel are drawn from Civil Police, Odisha Special Armed Police Battalions and Indian Reserve (IR) Battalions. The unit also allows recruitment of operatives from the Indian Armed Forces, Central Para Military Forces and units of other Indian State Police Services.[1] It works closely with the Special Intelligence Wing (SIW) of the Odisha Police.[1]
Honours
| Awardee | Award | Decoration | Year | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pramod Kumar Satapathy (Posthumous) |
Ashoka Chakra | 
|
2009 | Republic Day (India) |
See also
- Special Tactical Unit (Odisha Police)
- District Voluntary Force (Odisha Police)
- Counter Insurgency Force (West Bengal Police)
- Greyhounds (Police) (Andhra Pradesh Police)
- Naxalite–Maoist insurgency
- Operation Green Hunt
References
- ^ a b c d "Formation of Special Operation Group (SOG) in the State to deal with extremist and terrorist activities - creation of posts thereof" (PDF). Government of Odisha. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
- ^ "Orissa SOG without full-time head in fight against Naxals". Indian Express. 3 November 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
- ^ "Odisha mulling deployment of forces in western range areas". 14 July 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
- ^ "Small force that provides the cutting edge". The Indian Express. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2015.