Mayawati govt gets new DGP

The selection of Karamvir Singh,who has an excellent track record and is known as a “man of the field”,is considered to be part of the Mayawati government’s strategy to improve the functioning of the state police. After the Lok Sabha polls,the government has undertaken a number of measures to improve its style of functioning.

Karamvir Singh’s selection as the state’s top cop was the talk of bureaucratic circles ever since his sudden decision to return to the parent cadre. “The Chief Minister returned from New Delhi today and made the officials aware about her decision to change the DGP,” a source in the state government said.

On being contacted,the Secretary (Information) Diwakar Tripathi confirmed the report about the selection of Karamvir Singh as the new DGP. However,he could not give any information about the new posting of the outgoing DGP Vikram Singh. Vikram Singh was appointed as the DGP of the state in July 2007.

Meanwhile,most of the state’s IPS officers believe that it would take at least two to three months for Karamvir Singh to get “politically adjusted” in the new circumstances,given that he was away on central deputation for five years. “He is no match for his predecessor Vikram Singh who is known for his political maneuvering,” remarked an ADG-rank officer. However,he added that Karamvir Singh possesses the necessary professional and political skills to handle the political leadership effectively.

Nonetheless,Karamvir Singh has his work cut out for him. “His first task is to restore the prestige of his new office. He must be aware about a number of experiments done by the state government in the matters of policing in the state,” pointed out a source in the DGP office.

Incidentally,Karamvir Singh has joined his new office at a time when the Centre has raised serious concern over the speed with which IPS officers are shifted from one place to another. Besides,the government has already begun the process for the recruitment of constables on a large scale. Moreover,his acid test will come during the forthcoming by elections to 12 Assembly and one Lok Sabha seat.

In his first interaction with mediapersons,the new DGP was circumspect and said “it is too early to say” when asked about the challenges ahead of him. He added that his priorities would not only be improving the law and order situation in the state and helping the poor,but also to upgrade the skills of the police force. “Police ki dakshata badhane ka prayas kiya jai,” he said.

Before returning to his parent cadre,Karamvir Singh was posted as Special DGP of the CRPF. He went on Central deputation in January 2004 and got his posting as the IG,CRPF’s Central zone in Lucknow. Later he was promoted and got his posting as ADG (North) in the CRPF. Then he was made Special DG of the CRPF.

In UP,Karamvir Singh is known among his colleagues for his operation against the then dreaded dacoit of Chambal,Chabi Ram,in early 1980s during his tenure as the SP,Mainpuri.

He also held the posts of zonal IGs in Kanpur,Varanasi,Lucknow and Meerut,besides the post of IG (Operation). He was posted as SP,Anti-dacoity in Agra. He held the post of SPs in districts including Azamgarh,Faizabad and Varanasi. He had started his career in the field as the ASP,Rae Bareli.