Residents decry cops’ recording of reels amid recent spate of crimes

Bhubaneswar: A day after a social media user tagged a woman constable’s reel — made in uniform — to the senior police authorities on X, demanding strict action, the DIG (eastern range) Pinak Mishra on Wednesday instructed Balasore superintendent of police Pratyush Diwakar to look into the matter.Tagging the police authorities on Tuesday, social media user Akshaya Patra alleged officers in uniforms, shooting and sharing reels, has become rampant. “They are busy chasing social media engagement instead of focusing on their duties. The trend is alarming, with cops seen recording reels during training sessions, on field duty, and even inside canteens,” he wrote.At a time when the state police is already facing an image crisis following recent crimes, including the barbaric lynching of a railway constable on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, the city residents have taken a dig at police personnel for their growing obsession with shooting social media videos while on duty and in uniform.Videos of men and women officers lip-syncing or posing to popular background scores from Bollywood cop blockbusters like ‘Singham’ and ‘Sooryavanshi’ have sparked widespread resentment.Many fear this indulgence is distracting officers from their primary responsibilities. “When crime is on the rise and the image of the police is at stake, people expect vigilance, not entertainment videos,” said Sadananda Swain, a Bhubaneswar-based student.

Retired Odisha DGP Sanjeev Marik warned that the craze reflects a deeper cultural shift. “Social media has blurred the line between duty and performance. For uniformed personnel, such behaviour risks undermining public trust. This practice should be stopped,” he said, adding that while the service rulebook may not explicitly mention reels, it clearly requires personnel to maintain decorum and uphold the force’s image and dignity.Some officers, however, defend the practice, claiming it boosts morale amid their hectic work schedule. “We are not ignoring our duties. These reels are just a way to show the lighter side of policing,” said a woman constable, requesting anonymity.Senior officials are reportedly considering issuing guidelines to curb the trend. “We are examining the situation,” a senior officer at state police headquarters said.Earlier, on Jan 2, law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan had issued a stern warning to govt employees against shooting reels inside Lok Seva Bhawan (secretariat) after videos of several staff celebrating New Year surfaced, despite a ban. The minister also said that the home department might release a standard operating procedure to regulate such activities.