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Journalism of Courage
With the three-month extension granted to him as Maharashtra DGP coming to an end,S S Virk retired from service on Saturday. DGP (Anti-Corruption Bureau) A N Roy has been given additional charge of the top post until a successor is announced in a few days. Roy,a 1972 batch officer who was DGP for 11 months before being forced to step down after a Bombay High Court order in March,is likely to be appointed to the post again by the new government.
Addressing reporters at the state police headquarters,Virk said,Every innings has to end and my innings that started in 1970 ends today. When I took over as state DGP around seven months ago,there were many fears,apprehensions and suspicions on whether I would be able to shoulder the responsibility in the backdrop of terrorism and communal violence. Time has passed now,and I think nothing very serious has taken place.
There are groups prepared in each unit,district and commissionerate that will be ready to fight a terror attack in future. There are new SOPs in place with men earmarked for different responsibilities, said Virk.
The 1970-batch officer has served as Punjab DGP as well. He was sent to Punjab on deputation in the 1980s when militancy was at its peak there. Faced with the task of flushing out militants holed up in the Golden Temple,he received a bullet in a gunbattle during Operation Black Thunder II in 1988. He was repatriated to his parent cadre after allegations of misconduct were levelled against him by the Akali Dal government in Punjab and was appointed Maharashtra DGP on March 13 this year.
Asked whether there was any difference in terrorism in the two states,he said,Both are fundamentalist movements and have religious overtones. While Sikh militancy had limited support base,that for pan-Islamic terrorism is much wider.
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