Bengaluru: The senior most IPS officer in the state, Director General of Police Neelmani N. Raju became the first ever woman officer to head the state police force, when outgoing DG & IGP Rupak Kumar Dutta exchanged the baton with her on Tuesday evening.
Ms Raju, an IPS officer of 1983 batch, is the 40th DG & IGP of the state. She will be heading the police force till January 2020.
After the ceremonial exchange of baton, she told reporters that running the general elections next year would be a great task and responsibility.
The Chief Minister and Home Minister have given me the opportunity keeping trust in me and I will work up to their expectations. It’s a challenging task to lead the police force, that too when elections are coming.”
Further, she said that she will carry forward some of the good systems implemented by her predecessors.
“The beat system introduced by Dutta is revolutionary. Also, his idea of giving responsibility of investigations to Head Constables and ASIs is really good. Today’s constabulary is educated and we should make use of their knowledge in both crime prevention and detection. I will continue these schemes along with many others introduced by other predecessors,” she said.
When reporters asked how she would manage policing in Karnataka as during most of her service, she was on central deputation, she replied, “Length of experience does not indicate the intensity of experience.” She further stated that she would also focus on unsolved cases.
Don’t see myself as ‘woman’ officer
When asked how it feels to be the first woman police chief of a state, Ms Raju said, “I never see myself as a woman officer. That's how we are trained. However, I want police stations to be more women friendly. I will also focus on improving work atmosphere for women staff.”
Praveen Sood promoted as DGP, four transferred
The state government has promoted one IPS officer and transferred four others.
Praveen Sood, who was Additional Director General of Police of Communication, Logistics & Modernization, has been promoted to the grade of Director General of Police and posted as DGP, Internal Security Division, replacing DGP Neelmani N. Raju.
Sood has been replaced by Alok Mohan, who was ADGP Law & Order.
DGP of the CID, H.C. Kishore Chandra, who was in the race for the DG & IGP post, has been transferred and posted as DGP & Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation in the existing vacancy.
DGP M. N. Reddi, who was heading the Anti Corruption Bureau, has been posted as DGP and Commandant General, Home Guards, Civil Defence & Director of the Fire Force, relieving Raju from concurrent charge.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Sahay, who was ADGP, Grievances & Human Rights, is transferred to Karnataka Lokayukta.
