By Sharat Pradhan, IANS
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh’s new police chief Vikram Singh is a man with a mission. He wants “to put the badly derailed force back on track and instil the fear of police in every criminal in the state”.
“I am fortunate to have taken over at a time when there is total political will to rid the state of criminals – irrespective of their political affiliations – and to also pick out the black sheep within the police force who often use ‘lack of political will’ as an alibi to cover up their own lack of sincerity and determination to deliver,” Singh told IANS in an interview.
Chief Minister Mayawati’s choice for the director general of police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh is one of the most decorated Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in the country.
Singh, 57, who took over two months ago, wants to “put all criminals either behind bars or in a place they can never return from”.
Singh has also been responsible for masterminding the arrest or elimination of at least one and a half dozen militants and dreaded criminals including those linked with the Mumbai underworld who were allegedly hatching a conspiracy to kill popular Bollywood musician Himesh Reshammiya.
The latest feather in his cap is last month’s gunning down of the “most wanted” bandit Shiv Kumar Patel alias Dadua, regarded as the biggest catch in the country after Veerappan. Dadua had eluded police for 32 years.
He has also launched a massive drive against ‘eve-teasing’ – the harassment of women on the streets.
“Few would be aware that Uttar Pradesh Police is the single largest police force in the world and even in India. It has played a key role in laying the foundation of several uniformed forces in other states as well as the prestigious Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF),” Singh said.
Having taken part in several anti-terrorist and anti-dacoity operations, Singh was the first chief of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF).
As head of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), before he took over as state police chief, he was responsible for setting up the all-important Cyber Security Cell meant to monitor the security of all airports in the country.
Singh admits that the state police force has become corrupt and feudal.
“Cops have themselves brought disrepute to the force by resorting to practices that were not only unbecoming of any uniformed service but also terribly demeaning.”
Recalling the observation of one of his peers, Agha Moinuddin Shah, who held top positions in the state police, Singh said: “Way back in 1975 when I was still a budding IPS officer, I remember how Mr. Shah told another young officer wearing an impressive perfume: I expect young police officers to smell of gunpowder, not perfume.”
The words were deeply ingrained in his mind and to this day he not only keeps off perfumes but also makes it a point to issue the same sermon to subordinates and equals.
The police chief has also put an end to the common habit of feet touching – a traditional Indian custom of showing respect to seniors – by men in uniform. “It is a disgrace to the uniform that a cop is privileged to wear,” asserts Singh.
He has put up a board outside his chamber saying: “Please do not undermine your uniform by indulging in feet-touching.”
He even turned a deputy inspector general (DIG) rank officer out of his office simply because the latter insisted on touching his feet.
“I promptly issued instructions to my staff to ensure that he is never allowed entry into the DGP’s office as long as I remain in this chair,” he said.
An officer who believes in “fiercely following the rule of law”, Singh has also barred policemen at all levels from making “official” trips to the state capital or loitering around in the DGP’s office without business.
“On an average, at least 200 police officers visit the DGP’s office from 70 different districts of the state and more often than not they use their official cars to travel all the way from distant places.
“I have issued clear cut directives to all officers to visit the state capital or my office only when they are summoned.
“They would be saving on both fuel and time. After all, with all the modern telecom facilities available to them, what is the need for them to travel all the way to Lucknow only to discuss a trivial issue?”
The entire police force has also been formally warned “not to offer gifts to their superiors”.
Through an official circular, the state police chief has declared that policemen indulging in offering or accepting gifts from juniors would be severely reprimanded and liable to disciplinary action.
He makes it a point to periodically issue circulars to all officers right down to the additional superintendent of police level with clear guidelines on various important issues.
“The idea is to remind every uniformed man in the force about his duty towards society,” he asserts.