Cuttack, Nov. 8: Police department needed an overhaul to make it more "responsible and accountable", said K.B. Singh, on assuming charge as the director general of police here today.

The 1985 batch IPS officer, who succeeded Sanjeev Marik, said that the police department needed to be sensitive and extra cautious while discharging duty, especially when it would deal with women and weaker sections of the society.

The statement came in the wake of severe allegations of highhandedness against the state police.

Singh, before being elevated to the top post, was the director of the state vigilance department.

"I will work to bridge the gap between the police and the public and will ensure that the vacancies in the police force are filled up at the earliest," he said.

"At present, the challenge for the state police is to properly train its officers," he said, adding that adequate steps would be taken for advanced training, so as to prepare the personnel for taking up the any challenges relating to law and order.

Claiming that the state police had achieved a lot of success in containing Left-wing extremism, Singh said a new strategy would be chalked out to discourage youths from joining the Maoists and to provide adequate support to those who wanted to return to the mainstream.

"My priority will be to help implement the government's socio-economic development policies in the Maoist-affect areas. The police will have to become more responsible in its approach to the problem."

"A long-term plan will be envisaged to take up several challenges, including cyber crime, economic offences and other organised crimes in the state," he said.

The state government had yesterday posted 1982 batch IPS officer Binoy Behera as the director general of home guards and fire services. Yogesh Bahadur Khurania has been appointed as the director of state vigilance in place of Singh.

Following the reshuffle, Marik has gone on leave before his retirement, which was due on December 31, official sources said.