S. Iyer Mumbai, November 19
Mumbai’s new Police Commissioner Dr Parvinder Singh Pasricha comes with a reputation of an efficient police officer who streamlined traffic in the city in the 1990s.
He takes over in controversial circumstances. His predecessor Ranjit Sharma was asked to go on leave after a special investigating team found nine cases of omission and commission against him during investigations in the multi-crore fake stamp scandal involving master forger Abdul Karim Telgi.
The Maharashtra Government decided on Pasricha from among several other candidates on Tuesday. He is the second Sikh officer, after Amarjeet Singh Samra in the 1990s, to hold the post. A 1970 batch officer, Dr Pasricha is scheduled for retirement in 2007.
“My first priority is to instil confidence among Mumbaiites in the police force,” Dr Pasricha said. He added that there would be complete transparency in the operations of the Police Department. The new Commissioner said he would seek the advice of public representatives, non-government organisations and retired officials. He admitted that the morale of his officers and constabulary was low and that steps would have to be taken to restore their pride.
Talking to reporters today, he said the police force must work hard to reduce crime in Mumbai. “I will ensure that crime figures drop and people are able to live in peace,” he told reporters.
He, however, told reporters that he expected Chief Minister
Sushi Kumar Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal to give him a free hand in running the police force.
Dr Pasricha, who obtained a doctorate in traffic management following his stint in the city’s traffic department, is also a holder of the President’s Medal for distinguished service.
Bureaucrats in Maharashtra say Dr Pasricha’s public relations skills were a huge plus point in getting Maharashtra to swing the decision in his favour.
The police officer is said to have contacts with India’s many political figures. According to the grapevine Captain Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab, and senior Congress party officials in Delhi were lobbying for him.
The police officer is author of a number of technical publications on traffic management and other subjects. His book ‘You Live Only Once’ on safe traffic practices has been translated into a number of languages.
His presentation on traffic management on national highways was endorsed by the Union Ministry of Surface Transport as essential guidelines.
