New Bihar DGP steps up to tough decisions
Bihar’s new DGP Abhayanand, known more widely as an educationist for his “Super 30” success stories than as a police officer admired for his dedication and innovative methods, has started making policy changes aiming to raise the effectiveness of policing to contain Bihar’s new spurt in crime.
Keeping the state’s Special Auxiliary Police (SAP), a special force of retired Army jawans, aside for exclusive use in anti-Maoist operations and organised crimes, and detaching the DGP’s office from files concerning IPS officials and DSPs were two notable decisions Abhayanand, a 1977-batch IPS officer, took on his first day of work as DGP on Thursday.
SAP, whose formation in 2006 was possible after an idea originally proposed by Abhayanand when he was ADG (headquarters), had turned into just another branch of Bihar police with depleting performance in recent years as the well-trained men with Army experience were put to all kinds of policing work. Mr Abhayanand’s latest order removed SAP from the direct operational control of the district SPs, who would now have to seek permission from the IG (Operations) for deployment of this special force. The detachment of the all the files concerning Bihar’s IPS officials and DSPs from the DGP’s confidential cell to the home department will ensure that the DGP can focus on making strategies for crime control and putting in policies for effective policing, said officials. This move was an end to a practice initiated by the outgoing DGP, Neelmani.
Mr Abhayanand, armed with a long tenure of three years and four months unlike his predecessors — he is due for retirement on December 31, 2014 — is widely expected to bring in far-reaching improvements in the policing culture in Bihar. Known for keeping a low profile despite the growing accolades, Mr Abhayanand, who was ADG (training) before being made DGP, said his top priorities would be raising the “effectiveness and trustworthiness” of policemen.
Perhaps the first DGP in an Indian state whose father also served as the DGP in that state — his father, Jagadanand, retired as Bihar DGP in 1986 — Mr Abhayanand said: “I still remember what my father told me when I was leaving for Ranchi for my training posting – the khaki uniform bears great significance”.
ENDS
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