MUMBAI, January 22: Zone-I has come to be regarded as a punishment posting by the deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) with the daily quota of bandobast for the huge morchas and sit-ins that plague the area from Azad Maidan to Kala Ghoda being the only eventful assignment coming their way.However, Ashok Dhameja, DCP Zone-I, has a lot to be cheerful about. He has managed to master some of the rare computer assembly languages, an achievement that has put him on par with 50 other experts in the world. Dhameja has also introduced a personal computer training programme for the officers of his zone.
Incidentally, Dhameja's versatility is only one of the many cases of hidden talent in the Mumbai police force. Life beyond the khaki uniform also encompasses literary to musical interests.
Joint Commissioner of Police, Administration, T K Choudhary, is a romantic to the core. He is well-known among colleagues for his magical rendering of ghazals. However, this reporter found him at his vocal best singing Punjabifolk songs.
Deputy Commissioner of police, Economic Offences Wing, Datta Padsalgikar emerged on the top among police officers from 40 countries at a police administration seminar held at Paris in 1992. Padsalgikar is probably the only police officer who is fluent in French, and can also read and write Urdu.
Former DCP, Narcotics Cell, Hemant Karkare's driftwood-carved furniture is an art collector's dream. The meticulously chosen pieces show a highly developed artistic and aesthetic sense.
Superintendent of Police, Thane rural, Ashok Kamte's biceps are as awe inspiring as his baton. Kamte is a power-lifter and a body-builder to boot. Till now, he has broken three national records in power-lifting and won half-a-dozen gold and silver medals.
Former DCP, Detection, Rakesh Maria's talent in sports like basketball and cricket are as well-known as his sleuthing skills. In karate, he can pack a punch with as much dexterity as Vispy Kapadia. Maria recently led his basketball team for the 16th time in the
finals of the Maharashtra State Police games and has won 10 gold medals and six silver medals.
When it comes to hitting the bull's eye, none of the city's so called top encounter cops can beat Crime Branch woman Sub-Inspector, Vandana Narkar.She has won an array of awards and citations in various shooting competitions. She also won a bronze medal in South-East Asian games last year. Besides marksmanship, Vandana is also a paratrooper and a light aircraft pilot.
DCP Bhaskar Dangle of the Highway Safety Patrol is the only police officer to have cruised all the way to London on his motorcycle in the late 70s. Dangle also has a rare collection of vintage motorcycles of German and English make, ranging from 1915-1940 models like Zumdapp, Tramp, Levic, Rudj Junior and Bandton.
Assistant Police Inspector Sanjay Rangnekar is a rock-climber and mountaineer of the first order. Rangnekar has scaled as many peaks in mountaineering as in his career as a police officer. Although he has not forgotten Sulitop, Hanuman
Tibba, Ladaki, Shifidar, the highest peak he had scaled was the Kanchenjunga at 23,000 feet.
There are two p olice officers vying for the post when it comes to excellence in Urdu poetry -- Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime, Ranjit Singh Sharma and Additional Commissioner of Police, Special Branch-I, Ajit Parasnis. It is extremely difficult for the cops to arrive at a consensus as to which of the two has a greater grasp over the language of the nawabs and Urdu shayari.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
