Karamvir Singh takes charge

Before returning to his parent state last week,Karamvir was posted as the Special DGP of the CRPF on deputation with the Centre. His appointment was cleared by Chief Minister Mayawati on Tuesday evening.

Around 10 am on Wednesday,Singh arrived at the DGP headquarters and took charge in presence of senior officers.

The new DGP said it is the primary duty of any police force to help people. His priority included effective action against law-breakers and increasing the efficiency of police. He gave emphasis on projecting the UP Police as a pro-people force.

Singh was evasive on questions regarding the alleged erosion in the authority of the DGP in recent years. Asked about his plans to assert his position as the DGP,he said “it is too early to say”.

Later,the DGP called on the Chief Minister at her official residence.

The selection of Singh,who has an excellent track record and is known as a “man of the field”,is considered a part of the Mayawati government’s strategy to improve the functioning of the state police.

The appointment has been the talk of the bureaucratic circle ever since Singh’s sudden decision to return to the parent cadre. Most IPS officers believe it will take Singh a few months to get “politically adjusted”,given that he was away on Central deputation for five years. “He is no match for Vikram Singh who is known for his political manoeuvring,” said an ADG-rank officer.

Singh joins his new office at a time when the Centre has raised serious concerns over the speed with which IPS officers are shifted. Besides,the government has already begun the process recruiting constables on a large scale. His acid test will come in the forthcoming by-elections to the 12 Assembly and one Lok Sabha seat.

Singh has served the UP Police in many capacities in over three decades. He started his career as ASP,Rae Bareli.

In UP,he is known for his 1980s operation against the dreaded dacoit of Chambal,Chabi Ram. At the time,he was the SP of Mainpuri.

He also held the posts of Zonal IG in Kanpur,Varanasi,Lucknow and Meerut,besides the post of IG (Operation).

He held the post of SP in different districts including Azamgarh,Faizabad and Varanasi and the SP,anti-dacoity cell in Agra.

Before his return to the parent cadre,he was holding the post of Special DGP in the CRPF. Earlier,in his capacity as the ADG (North),CRPF,he had made a significant contribution in the Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lucknow gets new DM
The state government transferred three IAS officers,including Lucknow District Magistrate (DM) Chandra Bhanu on Wednesday. Amit Ghosh,who is posted as the DM of Meerut,will join as Lucknow DM. Bhanu has been appointed as the Commissioner of Trade Taxes. Bhuvanesh Kumar,who currently holds the post of MD,Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran,has been made new DM of Meerut.