Special Operation Group

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.

SOG Person Escorting Public (Cuttack)
Not to be confused with Special Operations Group.

Special Operation Group
SOG
Agency overview
Formed
  • August 21, 2004 (2004-08-21)
  • (17 years ago)
Employees3,000
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionOdisha, India
Map of Odisha Police Department's jurisdiction
Size60,160 square miles (155,800 km2)
Population41,947,358
Operational structure
HeadquartersCuttack, Odisha
Parent agencyOdisha Police
Child agencies
As of July 2018

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

References
  1. "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.
  2. "Orissa SOG without full-time head in fight against Naxals". Indian Express. 3 November 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  3. "Odisha mulling deployment of forces in western range areas". 14 July 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  4. "Small force that provides the cutting edge". The Indian Express. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
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