Tackling urban terrorism and a policy of zero tolerance to street crime would be his major priorities, said Mumbai's new police commissioner Rakesh Maria at his first press briefing after his appointment Saturday evening to the post, which had fallen vacant for an unprecedented 15 days after the resignation of earlier police chief Satyapal Singh.
"One thing on which we will lay stress is zero tolerance to street crime--chain snatching, housebreaking theft etc. The security of women and children is paramount. We will go with the basics of policing to control crime in the city and restore fear of police amongst criminals," he said. "I want to have a transparent police force which will be friendly to the public and an enemy to the criminals."
He said the delay in filling up the post only reflected the rigour of the selection process: "I feel more responsibility to perform better because I have been appointed after such rigorous process." To a remark that his appointment left by the wayside some of his seniors who are now threatening to resign, he said: "Policing is a disciplined service. I will service wherever I am told to."
Asked for a comment on the perception that he is anti-Muslim, he said it was wrong: "There is no such perception. I have been in the ATS for many years I don't think such a perception exists."
He said he would ensure a "serviceoriented, public friendly police force" in the city.
"Khaki uniform has no caste class creed or political affiliation. We will do our duty to ensure impartial election," was his answer to how Mumbai would be policed during the elections. Maria waxed nostalgic about his early years in the city where he has spent most of his life.
"A boy wearing chappals and playing in Bandra becomes an IPS officer and has now come to this office to take charge as Mumbai's police commissioner. This job is an IPS man's dream," he said. One of the biggest unsolved crime cases - the death of Esther Anuhya - would be tackled in earnest, promised Maria. "I will consult the Joint CP (crime). We will do our best to solve the case."
All support would be extended to Himanshu Roy who would be filling in Maria's boots as the new Anti-Terrorist Squad chief, he said. The police administration would look into the matter of the staff's welfare, keeping in view the recent incidents of suicide and mental distress among the force, he said.
"One thing on which we will lay stress is zero tolerance to street crime--chain snatching, housebreaking theft etc. The security of women and children is paramount. We will go with the basics of policing to control crime in the city and restore fear of police amongst criminals," he said. "I want to have a transparent police force which will be friendly to the public and an enemy to the criminals."
He said the delay in filling up the post only reflected the rigour of the selection process: "I feel more responsibility to perform better because I have been appointed after such rigorous process." To a remark that his appointment left by the wayside some of his seniors who are now threatening to resign, he said: "Policing is a disciplined service. I will service wherever I am told to."
Asked for a comment on the perception that he is anti-Muslim, he said it was wrong: "There is no such perception. I have been in the ATS for many years I don't think such a perception exists."
He said he would ensure a "serviceoriented, public friendly police force" in the city.
"Khaki uniform has no caste class creed or political affiliation. We will do our duty to ensure impartial election," was his answer to how Mumbai would be policed during the elections. Maria waxed nostalgic about his early years in the city where he has spent most of his life.
"A boy wearing chappals and playing in Bandra becomes an IPS officer and has now come to this office to take charge as Mumbai's police commissioner. This job is an IPS man's dream," he said. One of the biggest unsolved crime cases - the death of Esther Anuhya - would be tackled in earnest, promised Maria. "I will consult the Joint CP (crime). We will do our best to solve the case."
All support would be extended to Himanshu Roy who would be filling in Maria's boots as the new Anti-Terrorist Squad chief, he said. The police administration would look into the matter of the staff's welfare, keeping in view the recent incidents of suicide and mental distress among the force, he said.
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