IG, Santhal Pargana, Kumud Choudhary at her office. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Inspector-general (Santhal Pargana) Kumud Choudhary is not known for backing out of a confrontation. So, when in May this year, she cuffed Godda MP Furqan Ansari for carrying arms in his car during the Lok Sabha poll, not too many in the police circles were surprised. After all, Choudhary, the first woman IPS officer in undivided Bihar, had similarly taken on extortionist-turned-politician Vijendra Gope while she was the assistant superintendent of police, Danapur.

In 1993, as the superintendent of police, Vaishali, she ensured a free and fair poll when a bloodbath was all but on the cards after the murder of sitting MLA Hemant Shahi, son of veteran Congress leader L.P. Shahi.

In March this year, too, the state got a taste of the cop, whose expertise lies in defusing crises. Sahebganj had been left burning by violence after a spate of extortions. Shopkeepers and traders had enforced a four-day bandh against the series of murders and loot. Choudhary was rushed to the district by a chopper on the instructions of the chief minister and the zonal inspector-general of Santhal Pargana. She restored normality in the district within 48 hours and arrested the criminals from Mumbai.

In an interview with Anupam Sheshank, she speaks on her attempts to clean up the police ranks of corruption.

• Santhal Pargana is considered relatively crime free. Is that a fair assessment?

Just because the region is free from extremism, one cannot say it has been rid of crime. Because we are far away from the state capital, the incidents here do not get reported.

Moreover, we are surrounded by Naxalite-affected areas such as Banka and Kahalgaon in Bihar and Giridih. So we have to keep a constant vigil to keep the rebels at bay. Then again, as in any other place, there are routine incidents of crime.

Recently, there were murders for land in Deoghar and a spate of extortion-related crime in Sahebganj. This is also the corridor for cattle smugglers, which means more vigil.

More specific to the region is organised crime. Profitable mines of Eastern Coalfields Limited that are located here draw coal smugglers. Illegal mining is also a nagging problem. New mines are also coming up as licences have been given out recently to Punjab State Electricity Board and Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation. The police have succeeded in containing crime but have to keep a constant watch.

• The fact remains that organised crime cannot thrive without help from the police. What steps have been taken to break the nexus?

I have taken strict action against police officials found helping criminals and will continue to do so. It is true that corruption has taken root here and the distance from the capital only helps some policemen get away. I have shaken up this ?culture? and am constantly keeping a watch.

• As you yourself admit, illegal mining is a major problem for the region. What steps have been taken in this regard?

The police alone cannot work wonders. Besides criminals, coal company officials and transporters are in this racket. Only efforts from all sections can bring in the desired results. We are doing our bit by cracking down on policemen who provide protection to the criminals, but others have to play their part as well.

One also has to keep in mind that most poor people take to digging at abandoned mines. So, there cannot be a clear-cut solution. Then again, it is difficult to monitor who sneaks into abandoned mines.

Most of the times, local residents carry on mining and it comes to light only when a mishap occurs.

• What steps have you taken to restore the people?s faith in the police and make them responsive and sensitive to human rights?

I have no hesitation in saying that people have started having faith in the police in Santhal Pargana. These days we are regularly tipped off about criminal activities and plans. Just goes to show the confidence we enjoy.

What we have to understand is that the police operate under a system of reward and punishment. While encouraging officials and jawans to be responsive to the masses and be sensitive to human rights, I personally try to be accessible to the common masses.

Recently, I had read a newspaper report, which said that a woman from Deoghar, the wife of a homeguard jawan deputed at a police station in the district, was raped and seriously burnt.

The victim?s mother had to run from pillar to post, but justice was denied to her daughter. The rapist, meanwhile, was roaming about with impunity. The report also mentioned that the rapist had claimed that no one could do anything to him. So, I went to the hospital where the victim was hospitalised. She told me about the rapist and his audacity. I set up a task force and pressured him to surrender in less than 12 hours.

I also persuaded an NGO to give Rs 10,000 to the victim. Such incidents restore faith in the police.

• What is the progress of the case against Furqan Ansari and Prashant Mandal?

We have completed the investigation and the matter is sub judice.

We are also investigating other aspects of the politicians and the presence of foreign arms with them.