UP gets tough new police chief

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh's new police chief Vikram Singh is a man on 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".

Eliminations

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 per'I expect young police officers to smell of gunpowder, not perfume'."

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".