Abhayanand as the director-general of police, aims to instill in his officers strict discipline and the zest to chart out innovative methods to deal with crime. In an interview to Ramashankar, he talks of fighting the Naxalite menace, tackling terrorism with a firm hand, beefing up vigil on the international border solving
each crime by delving into its details, encouraging his
personnel to his passion for coaching IIT aspirants from
underprivileged families

The priority areas

● What are your priorities as the new DGP of Bihar?

Every police officer’s main job is to control crime and maintain law and order. But the methods of doing the job differ from individual to individual. As the state police chief, I have asked my colleagues, right from senior police officers to constables, to put on their thinking caps. Problems are aplenty and you have to devise ways to accomplish the task more professionally and in an efficient manner. You have to work within the framework of the law and it depends on how you enthuse a sense of security among the common people and, on the contrary, create terror in the minds of the criminals. Maintaining peace in the society and ensuring safety and security to the life and property of the citizens are the topmost priorities of the state police. As I have remained out of main policing for a long time, I am now trying to understand the economics of policing and find out appropriate solutions to the problems.

Take challenges

● What are the main challenges before the state police these days?

The most important task is to restore people’s confidence in the system i.e. law enforcing agency. Effectiveness and trustworthiness of policemen is the crying need of the hour. Once they have faith in you, they will start giving you a lot of information about illegal activities going on around them and also about the persons involved. The criminals and the Maoists are also part of the society. The state policemen have to think about ways to curb incidents of kidnapping for ransom, loot of property, Naxalite-related and trans-border activities. Corruption is another big issue that the state police have to look into. Ill-gotten money has its far-reaching implications on law and order. We have discussed the issue of corruption in the police force with some of our senior colleagues pondering over it seriously to find out ways to check it.

Mantra to officers

● What tips have you given to your men for containing crime?

I have spoken to some of the police officers posted in the field after assuming charge on August 31. After conversations with them, I came to the conclusion that the basic system of policing was not being followed properly. I have asked them to first follow the basic operating procedure like detection of crime, timely supervision and disposal of cases and then do creative work. Their role is not limited to supervision and filing of chargesheets on time but they have to ensure production of the witnesses in courts during trial. In addition, officers have been asked to depute one personnel in every district to keep track on the development in the cases under trial. Instructions have also been given to go appeal against those criminals who have been on bail for long and are committing crime again. Strict vigil is also being maintained at the jails as there have been reports of some of the prisoners operating from behind the bars.

Crime control

● There has a spurt in the incidents of crime during NDA-II. What steps are being taken by the state police headquarters to check crime?

The police headquarters has taken a serious view of such incidents. Efforts are on to find out the reasons behind the sudden rise in criminal activities in the state. I have assigned certain officers with the task of going into the depth of these incidents and submit a detailed report. I have also sought the opinion of some of the senior officers posted in field. Though I don’t have any magic wand to do miracles and usher change in a day or two, I am doing my work with good intentions. If your intentions are good, you will achieve your goal one day. It is just a matter of time.

Battle the rebels

● Bihar has witnessed an increase in Naxalite-related incidents in the past few years. The infamous Kajra incident in Lakhisarai last year drew the attention of the entire country and hostage crisis continued for several days. What are your plans to deal with the Naxalite problem?

Office of the director-general of police.Telegraph picture

I have already mentioned that the problem related to Naxalite terror is multi-dimensional. You have to approach the problem two-way. Development works should be taken up in Naxalite-hit areas by the government. At the same time, the police would do their work. Don’t forget that they (Maoists) are citizens of this country and you can’t drive them out. So you have to deal with them keeping all these facts in mind. To deal with the menace, we would chalk out a strategy. The police have learnt from their past experience and will work accordingly.

Fight terrorism

● Is the state police force equipped to deal with any terrorist attack?

Of course, there is an anti-terrorist squad at the state police headquarters. It is attached to the Special Task Force and works under the IG (operations). But there is need to improve the cell in the wake of rise in the incidents of terrorist attacks in the country. The state has no past record of any major attack by any terrorist group. But we are vigilant and trying to strengthen our intelligence network to prevent such attacks.

Wielding the stick

● Your predecessor had posted some of the non-performing officials to the special branch, the state police’s intelligence wing. How do you see it?

I observe it in an other way. There are officials, who are proficient in office work than fieldwork. Intelligence gathering is entirely a different thing from performing field duty. There are officers who can analyse the data in a better way than they can discharge their duty at the police station. It depends on you how you use their experience in curbing crime and maintaining law and order, the prime duty of any policeman.

Border vigil

● What about policing on the state’s borders that have become vulnerable to crime of all hues?

There are certain parameters for carrying out policing on the international border. Sashastra Seema Bal personnel have been deployed on the India-Nepal border. Guidelines are issued by the Centre from time to time on such issues. There are certain things, which I can’t share with the media in the larger interest of the nation’s security. (He parried questions related to policing on state’s international borders).

Classroom role

● Now your responsibility as the DGP has increased. Will you be able to spare time for the IIT aspirants who have been so attached to you?

It is a fact that I will not be able to give much time to the students preparing for IIT. But I will try to spare some time for them. A routine has to be followed. Moreover, the students have assured me that they would not dishearten me and try to give their cent per cent at the examinations. I visited the Gaya-based institute on September 8 after an official meeting with the senior police officers on law and order situation.

Teach the underprivileged

● You are more popular as an academician than an administrator. What prompted you to teach students belonging to deprived sections of the society? How do you see the two different sides of your personality — as a teacher and a police officer?

Teaching is my passion while policing is my profession. But it does not mean that they are two different things. They are interlinked with each other. It all started with teaching my son and daughter, who were preparing for the IIT. When I was posted as the superintendent of police of Nalanda, I came to Patna to attend an official meeting. When the meeting was over, I decided to go home before returning back to Nalanda. On returning home, I found my wife scolding our son for obtaining poor marks in mathematics examinations. Naturally, I too had to face her wrath because I had little time to take care of my wards. Then I intervened and asked my son which is the largest number. I was surprised at his reply. I discovered a hidden talent in the kid and started coaching him. Later, he went to IIT. My daughter is also an IIT-passout. Thus, began the journey of teaching students belonging to the lower strata of the society.

Encourage force

● What message would you like to give to the police of the state?

I will like to say that in the course of duty, a policeman should be seen as a human being than a law enforcer. The need of the hour is to have a humane face of the police force.

Reforms in system

● Have you brought about any change in the existing system?

Soon after assuming charge, instructions were issued to all SPs not to use Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) personnel in law and order duty. Retired army personnel, known as SAP, were appointed for special purposes and not for routine work. The SPs have been asked to use SAP in special operations against Maoists and organised crime only. Now, they have to take permission from the IG (operations) for deputing SAP for anti-Naxalite operations. ADG (law and order) has been made the overall in-charge of the SAP. Moreover, the files related to IPS and DSPs have been sent back to the cell concerned of the home (police) department and they will not be with the DGP confidential cell. In addition, all SPs have been asked to listen to the complaints of the citizens patiently. The SPs have been directed to change the investigating officers without any delay if the complainants are not satisfied with the former’s investigation.

● About Abhayanand

Born on January 1, 1955, Abhayanand is a 1977-batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre, did his schooling from St Xavier’s School (up to Class VIII) and later from St Michael’s High School in Patna. He did his BSc (physics honours) from Patna University in 1975 and topped the university and was awarded the best student. Though he took admission in MSc, he started preparing for the Union Public Service Commission. In his first attempt, he was selected as IPS and allotted Bihar cadre. After serving as SP in a few districts, including Bettiah (West Champaran) and Nalanda, the two most crime-prone districts of the state, he was posted as DIG, central range (Patna), for a brief period. He was appointed as additional director-general of police (headquarters) when Nitish Kumar came to power in November 2005. Then, he was posted as ADG, Bihar Military Police. He was posted as ADG (training) before being elevated to the post of the DGP on August 24.