By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 30 Nov: IPS Officer Ashok Kumar, who retired as Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttarakhand today, will be most remembered for his people friendly attitude. He had a memorable 3 year long tenure as DGP, and has many unique achievements to his credit. Such a long tenure of 3 years as DGP is rarely seen these days.
Even the people of Uttarakhand feel fortunate to have had him as the top police officer for so long. Kumar, who is author of the famous book, ‘Human in Khaki’ in English and ‘Khaki Mein Insaan’ in Hindi aptly fitted this description of a police officer himself. Anyone in trouble in the state and not getting enough help from lower level of police officers could easily approach him at the State Police Headquarters. He was always willing to help. This quality separates him from many other police officers and, for this quality, he is going to be missed by the common people of the state.
Kumar has also co-authored another bestseller on a very contemporary subject related to cyber crime, titled ‘Cyber Encounters’. This book makes aware the readers about the dangers of cyber crime and teaches them how to avoid becoming a victim of cyber frauds.
As far as his achievements as the DGP go, he has led many of the operations successfully like Operation Prahar, Operation Smile, Operation Maryada and Operation Mukti. Not only this, many sincere efforts for the welfare of the Police officials also need to be credited to him.
With Operation Prahar, Kumar ensured that the Policing was victim-centric. Under this operation, strict action was taken against criminals, leading to overall improvement in law and order in the state. Under Operation Prahar, a total of 2,784 cases were registered and action was taken against 4,505 accused. In all, 2,396 accused were arrested and the Gangster Act was imposed on 35 accused and their illegal property worth Rs 186.15 crore was confiscated.
Operation Smile was also a very well-aimed operation with a very humane objective. Under this operation, a total of 265 missing children (boys 144, girls 121), 488 missing men and 603 missing women (total 1356 missing) were found and united with their families. Of the 1356 missing persons found by the state police under this operation, 1169 are registered (1153 from Uttarakhand state, 16 from other states) and 187 are unregistered (129 from Uttarakhand state, 58 from other states).
Yet another very well directed operation launched under Kumar’s direction was Operation Mukti, also with very humane and sensitive objectives. Under this operation, 3,603 children were enrolled in schools and are now getting education. Uttarakhand is a state that attracts huge number of pilgrims and tourists each year. Apart from tourism, lakhs of pilgrims come to Uttarakhand for the Char Dham Yatra and for Kanwad Yatra. With such a huge number of pilgrims and tourists, most of whom coming in summer months, it becomes a huge challenge for the Police and administration to manage the crowds. Many of the pilgrims also indulge in unruly and undignified behaviour which offends the modesty of other pilgrims and the locals. Operation Maryada was launched on Kumar’s direction aimed at maintaining the dignity and sanctity of pilgrimage places and also to ensure better sanitation there. Under this operation, more than 10,000 persons were arrested in the entire state and fines to the tune of over Rs 3 crores collected from them.
When Ashok Kumar took over as DGP in 2020, the country was witnessing the wave of Corona pandemic. Under his guidance, Uttarakhand Police played a key role in helping people by arranging oxygen cylinders for them, arranging beds for them in hospitals and also organising blood donation camps. It also helped people by distributing rations, milk, cooked food to the needy and also cremated around 500 persons who died because of Corona. This operation was aptly called Mission Hausla by the state police.
However, the biggest contribution of Ashok Kumar as DGP was the fact that, under him, the complaints filed by the common person received due priority. Those not helped by other police officials or at the police stations and chowkis could easily approach him and he was always eager to help. He made sure that not only the complaints of were duly registered but also ensured that they were resolved on a priority basis.
He also took a keen interest in resolving the complaints related to cyber frauds and set up a Cyber Police Station in Dehradun. A large number of victims of cyber frauds and those who had lost their mobile phones, etc., were helped by the police. In fact, the state has been one of the best performing states in resolving cyber crime cases.
He also led a mission to reduce the drugs menace in the state and took effective action against drug peddlers. Around 1,800 persons were arrested and drugs worth more than Rs 15 crores were recovered from them.
Kumar also proved to be a good boss for the police officials. He set up a complaints resolution committee for police officers called Samadhan Samiti. Under this committee, over 9,700 complaints of police personnel were received and of these over 9,300 are already resolved. Under his leadership, the department also undertook responsibility to resolve serious financial or personal problems of the police personnel and provide them immediate relief.
Kumar also well understood the need to augment the police infrastructure and to modernise the police force. A multi-purpose 6 storey Patel Bhawan was constructed and the administrative building of Police Lines Dehradun built. Smart barracks and modern messes were also constructed for the personnel in police stations, outposts, police lines and divisions. The offices of all the branches of Police Headquarters were given a modern look and upgraded. Not only this, recruitments and promotions were also expedited during his tenure. In the last three years, more than 6,000 police personnel were promoted and recruitment was held for more than 1,500 posts in the Police Department. Many Police buildings and fire stations were approved during his three year tenure.
Kumar leaves footprints which will not be easy to fill for his successors.
