Bhaskar Rao is Bengaluru’s New Police Commissioner,Alok Kumar transferred :

PRAMESH S JAIN

Highlights:

* “The new motto of city police will be ‘We will always stand by you’Though it is intangible,the real test will be to make citizens trust the police he said.

* The new police chief Bhaskar Rao is determined to tackle the “drug menace”, which he said has spread to schools and colleges.

* He wants to empower zonal DCPs, who will be responsible for their zone, which will be treated like an independent district.They will be given autonomy,” he said.

* Transfers of this scale are common with a new government taking shape. BS Yediyurappa took oath as the Chief Minister for the fourth time last month.

“Bhaskar Rao is First Bengaluru Police  Commissioner assumed Self Charge”

In the second major rejig in the police department in two days, the BJP government in Karnataka on Friday transferred seven top IPS officers, but cancelled two of them later.

1990 batch IPS officer Bhaskar Rao is the new Bengaluru city police commissioner. Rao will be the 35th police commissioner of the city.

Senior IPS Officer Bhaskar Rao on Friday took charge as the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, ending about the 47-day stint of his predecessor Alok Kumar. At a hurriedly organised event at the police commissioner office, Rao took over the charge as the city’s police chief. In a departure from the usual precedent, the outgoing commissioner was not present at the ceremony to hand him over the charge.

As today in its first ever history in the police department Bhaskar Rao is the first police commissioner of Bengaluru city who has self assumed the charge as Bengaluru City Police Commissioner without his predecessor handing over the charge to him by changing the batton and in the history of Bengaluru city police commissionerate Alok Kumar IPS officer of 1994 batch is the first police commissioner who has served for short time for 47 days as he assumed charge on 17th June 2019.

“After many years Bhaskar Rao is the second resident of Bengaluru and a Kannadiga to take Charge as Bengaluru city police commissioner.

Bhaskar Rao was appointed as the new Bengaluru police commissioner in place of Alok Kumar,who was transferred with immediate effect to the Karnataka State Reserved Police as Additional Director General of Police,which Rao had held previously, an official notification said.

Alok Kumar had taken charge as Bengaluru Police Commissioner barely one and half months back, replacing T Suneel Kumar.

1990-batch officer Bhaskar Rao has been appointed the Police Commissioner. He was serving as the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Karnataka State Reserve Police.

He has been accorded the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2017 and the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2008.He was also accorded the United nation’s Medal for the Services rendered in International Peacekeeping in a warzone (Kosovo, Yugoslavia) in 2000.

Before his posting in Reserve Police, he was serving as ADGP Crimes,Technical Services,Forensic lab,ADGP Canine squad, ADGP,Directorate Civil Rights Enforcement and Mysuru Police Commissioner among other positions.His other postings include the Commissioner of Transport and Road Safety and the Director of the Karanataka State Transport Corporation.Rao is a known advocate of public and non-motorised transport and is a known cycling enthusiast.

Alok Kumar who was only appointed as the Bengaluru Police Commissioner in mid-June only has been shifted to the State Reserve Police in a like-for-like transfer.

Though Kumar’s stint was short, he left a considerable impact on Bengaluru. During early morning jogs, he inspected the policemen on duty and also paid heed to complaints brought by people.

On several nights, he carried out surprise checks at police stations to ascertain whether officials were on duty and adhered to their disciplinary code.

Kumar also emphasised on the use of social media by police officers, and had asked citizens to share their concerns on the public app – Sharechat.The police stations were instructed to respond to the complaints shared on the mobile application.

On one night alone, the police had seized 500 vehicles and 499 suspects were detained. Even the traffic police were also on high alert by booking many drunken driving cases.

He also looked after providing elaborate security arrangements for Rebel MLAs who came from Mumbai to meet the speaker and till they reached to airport he took all responsiblities and made all possible arrangements even while the floor test and big drama was going on in the coalition government he has done elaborate arrangements no untoward incident happened on the day of floor test and on Swearing in ceremony of New Chief Minister of karnataka BS Yediyurappa who sworn in last week he made all elaborate arrangements.

After Assuming charge at his office Bhaskar Rao addressed the media at a press conference along with Addl CPs as,Harishekaran,Murugan with Joint CP Crime,Sandeep Patil was to present,Bhaskar Rao said,I have assumed the charge as Bengaluru Police Commissioner this is a big responsibility which has been given to me by the Chief Minister for this I thank Chief Minister of karnataka for having faith in me and giving this responsibility I even thank DG&IGP of karnataka Neelamani Raju Madam and with the best wishes of my senior officers in the department I have got a chance to serve as Commissioner the big responsibility given to me by Karnataka state government by CM with full confidence I tell with all my officers as subordinates I am ready to work and serve the people of Bengaluru.Bengaluru city is not new to me I have born and brought up here only I am a resident of Bengaluru in 1970 I have studied in Kamala Nehru Makala Mandira School,Kumaran’s school, St.Josephs college,National College Jayanagar and Bengaluru universitiy I have studied.In Bengaluru I have spent my days by walking I have done cycling on the road I have travelled in Motorcycles and now after becoming a officer in cars I have travelled in cars in all types so it is not new to me.Bengaluru citizens are very good people to serve and work for them I think that will work as a Soldier as I have grown up in Bengaluru only and I am here only.Bengaluru city should be safe this will be my big responsibility Citizens public are most important person it is not only our duty it is the duty and responsiblity of  every citizens and we need their full cooperation as Bengaluru is a cosmopolitan city and it is even a central place of the city as all walks of life people are here.in the year 1970 when I was a child the then commissioner of police was VR Garudachar I visited first time to commissioner office in the old building I visited.Recalling how as a boy he had once entered the office of the police commissioner to invite the then police chief P.G.Harlankar as Chief guest for a college event as he was union president of the college,he said he was thankful to be given the opportunity to serve the city. “Born and brought up here, the city is not new to me,he said.He even said 1.38 Crore is the population of Bengaluru city and to keep them safe karnataka government has given me big responsibility for this I thank them.Any work which can be done is with team work as my predecessor has also done good works in his period to keep Bengaluru safe we need to support of public also,from various organisation also,political parties with politicians support also needed for us. As what I came to know and aware of Bengaluru city is first we have to bring increase the trust of people in the police department how much ever we say people friendly people friendly it should be like that only and we should prove it. It should not end only with talks we should really bring confidence in people only by investigating and giving report of the case people should not be satisfied they should feel as it cannot be measured it should bring feeling in people as trust.There are many challenges the main challenge is Drugs,Which is being a big menace and rampant of students taking drugs as supply of drugs is more in front of schools and colleges,we have Sandeep Patil who has done outstanding work in Bengaluru and Mangaluru regarding drugs is concerned and other officials as Harishekaran,Murugan and others will report tomorrow and all DCPs we have as we are going to have no tolerance for drugs there will be zero tolerance for drugs in the city.And ridding the city of drugs is the top priority.The drug menace has spread to schools and colleges, and needs to be rooted out.The police cannot do this alone.We will partner with all education institutions in the city in this campaign,and it should reach to all families and all other places with the support we can get rid of drugs.We have discussed the same when I was ADGP crime we have done many awareness programmes and now I have got chance to do in Bengaluru city for this specially we need yours as Media cooperation and support from all Media why means you are the biggest communicator between Police and public your support is very much needed for us and lot of support,Co-operation,help,Criticism is required from all of you.In Most of many places Goondagiri,Hafta collections and extortion is also a big menace so those who are involved in this Anti-social element activities we are going to clamp it to the very very heavy hand and ensure citizens will leave in peace and safety.In my administration system all DCPs I am planning to see that it will function like districts they are responsible the bugs talks with the DCPs and for this If they make reason we don’t have this and that facility there will be no excuse for it.So who has created fear among people from financial institutions and are indulged in cheating people we will act tough on them and a strict action will be taken on those criminals.We are going to try for a very clean and honest administration.No one should point fingers on me or on my officers and staff that we are pressurised and influenced not to perform our duty and not helping public I make sure that I have a good Core team that in any circumstances we will freely accept their complaints and register case against those troubling them and if crime rate is increasing then also we will register case and investigate and punish the accused and give justice to people and we will try to control criminal activities in the city.Many from all walks of life people from inter-State and other districts of Karnataka have come here as there parents send here them for their studies and work as they think it is a safe city for them to stay in Bengaluru.He said I am totally against the raiding and harrasing people In what seems to be a dig at the recent spate of raids by the police,Mr.Rao said, “Conducting raids, blocking entrances forcing people to run away and some people falling is not something that we will do.The city’s work culture is to work hard and party hard responsibly.They have come here to enjoy life and those who are indulged in Illegal activities I assure we will take very very strict action as per law and normal citizen we will not trouble them.”We Kannadigas are known for our hospitality and for our kindness and goodness, but no one should take them for granted,” he said, adding it is his duty to ensure the safety of all citizens,including migrants.Bengaluru is a prime destination because it is safe.We will ensure it remains so we will ensure them a secure atmosphere.Nobody should feel unsafe in Bengaluru that is going to be our main motto.Any instructions or orders from DGP and Central government comes we will strict follow it and B-Trac programmes will be accelerated we will give the result oriented visible transparent administration and you are free to criticize me in any Media you can call me on my government number,private number,office number,Home number,and I am even on Social media also you can be mercilessly in your criticism and we are always there to clarify something as gone wrong.Mr Rao said me and my officers we will stand with our commitment because we love Bengaluru and we want to make Bengaluru a great destination and whatever life is here in Bengaluru it is meant for working very hard enjoying also very hard and enjoy with lot of responsibility also. Any problem i always available for consultation nobody should feel that they have been left out that they have not been heard and not inclusive it is going to be completely inclusive administration in this time and I am ready too.There are plenty of cases registered as thousands are in pending for investigations and are in under investigation I will try my best to see to it Empowering police personnel is another key focus area,The last constable of the city is also the commissioner when he is interacting with citizens.He cannot be taken for granted, beaten up or assaulted,will not be tolerated he is my representative wearing a uniform whenever I am not there he is present on my behalf and of course when he is there something wrong has been done that can be brought to my notice and finally result oriented short training programmes to fulfill their needs and demands we should empower and encourage them.Nobody is bad,Nobody is very bad,nobody is very good,everybody is excellent we have to create a good environment.Good clean environment for a very objective leadership so that each one even a constable should feel like a leader while discharging his duties in Bengaluru city that kind of atmosphere we wanted to create and for this I need every bodies whole hearted cooperation our doors are always open we are always available and somebody other will be always available to answer your grievieances we don’t want to see that see that somebody is dissatisfied unhappy we want to have as much as interaction with schools,colleges,and all educational institutions,IT Institutions we have in Northeast area and north and other parts of city foreign nationals today bengaluru is going to very very high level and joining hands with government we have also do our major part because police department of Bengaluru is huge and internal part of Bengaluru city Service provider we are going to enhance and build capacity in each of the constable to see that the service delivery is fully improved.For small problems our DCPs are available if not I am available always and somebody has done wrong in our department please don’t think that I am going to excuse them we are to deal with such person also very heavily.These are the few ideas and top most priority will be to see to it Maintaining communal harmony in the city is also high on the agenda.A community outreach to make policing more people friendly will guide my tenure the new police chief said. “The new motto of city police will be ‘We will always stand by you’Though it is intangible,the real test will be to make citizens trust the police he said.When asked what is the main agenda and challenges he said my main agenda is to solve the problems in our department we will do it very heavily as district headquarters we are not conducting raids on terrorist they are peaceful people who are honestly come to city to enjoy their life as rushing their in catching them and all I will not tolerate this type of activities by the officers and staff there is Zero tolerance and I don’t encourage that type of culture I am telling about in future.When asked about real estate menace in the city is increasing and court has also slammed by telling that police officers are not recovery agent he said when it comes I will take stringent action first I should be correct and we will act tough on white collar criminals crimes are increasing day by day here we are not doing any laticharge are opening tear gas also here most of the crimes are cyber crime and most are internet criminal activities we will discuss with government and CID and we will make a action plan in curbing the criminal activities my office and my core team we will work together and shortly we will bring changes in administration and we will have a action plan and I need to get more familiar to all as DCPs are head of the district as in Delhi DCP North,DCP South Delhi here are also all Zonal DCPs will be answerable for it he added.

As part of the reshuffle, the government of Karnataka also transferred IPS officers,The government ordered the transfers of six other IPS officers Umesh Kumar, Hemant Nimbalkar has been appointed as Additional Commissioner of Police Admin,Dr.BR Ravikanthe Gowda,R Chethan, D Devaraja and Dr M Ashwini,but cancelled the transfers of Umesh Kumar and Ravikanthe Gowda in the evening.

Umesh was transferred as Inspector General of Police of fire services,and after cancelling the order he has been placed as Additional Commissioner of Police West while Ravikanthe Gowda was transferred as the Joint commissioner of police, Bengaluru West, the notification said and now will be posted at Chief Office with immediate effect till further orders.

The State Government on Thursday posted senior IPS officer Amar Kumar Pandey as Additional DGP (Law & Order). Incumbment Kamal Pant has been posted as Additional DGP, Intelligence, Bengaluru.The orders were among 11 transfers carried out by the government,as per an order issued on Thursday.B Dayananda,who was IGP,Intelligence, Bengaluru,has been posted as IGP, Karnataka State Reserve Police,(KSRP), while M Chandrashekar,who was until now IGP,CID and Economic Offences, Bengaluru,will move to the Anti-Corruption Bureau,Bengaluru.SN Siddaramappa has been posted as Commissioner,Information and Public Relations Department, Bengaluru,a post which was vacant. Chetan Singh Rathore will take charge as DCP,Central Division Bengaluru.Two IPS officers who were probing the death of Cafe Coffee Day founder VG Siddhartha DIGP and Commissioner of Police, Mangaluru,Sandeep Patil, and DCP, Law and Order, Mangaluru Hanumantharaya were also transferred.

Transfers of this scale are common with a new government taking shape. BS Yediyurappa took oath as the Chief Minister for the fourth time last month.