HYDERABAD: The 1986 batch IPS officer M Mahendar Reddy took charge as in-charge director general of police (DGP) on Sunday. A farewell parade was organised for Anurag Sharma, the outgoing DGP.
At the farewell parade organised at RBVRR Telangana State Police Academy, Himayathsagar, Anurag Sharma said that his stint in the police department started as ASP Nirmal. Sharma’s first charge was as Superintendednt of police, Rangreddy.
He said that the concept of people-friendly policing took birth out of the need to reaching out to the public, understanding their needs, and changing police department’s priorities according to that of public’s. After the farewell parade held at the police academy, Mahendar Reddy formally took charge of the post at Telangana Police Headquarters in Lakdikapul.
Cyber Crime units and experts for every district
The society is becoming increasingly digitised and there has been a marked jump in the number of cyber crimes. The new top cop of Telangana, DGP M Mahendar Reddy, said that cyber crimes have potential to bring an entire economy down on its knees. Therefore, to put a check on it, Cyber Crime units will be set up in every district.
At a press conference held at the Telangana police headquarters in Lakdikapul after formally taking charge as the in-charge DGP, Mahendar Reddy said experts in tackling cyber crimes will be deployed in every district and support will be provided to them in taking up investigations.
Stating agendas ahead, the new DGP said that separate category of service delivery standards will be by dividing police units into three categories - three commissionerates (Hyderabad, Cyberabad, Rachakonda) in GHMC area, remaining commissionerates, rural police stations.
Explaining why separate standards are developed for commissionerates in city and for rural police Stations, the new DGP said it is because of local situations. For instance, response time to distress call differs from city to rural police as extent of jurisdiction will be smaller in city while it will be larger in rural areas, he said.
Addressing police personnel at the farewell parade for his predecessor Anurag Sharma, in-charge DGP Mahendar Reddy said that Economic growth of a place and law and order situation are interlinked. Hyderabad is like a lifeline to Telangana. “Close to 70 to 80 per cent of Telangana’s income comes from Hyderabad.
If peace and security is intact in Hyderabad, people will be happy, investments can be attracted from around the world, industries will be established, youth will get jobs,” he said.
Citing chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, he said that income generated through the industry services helps in development of remote villages.
As part of community CCTV project under which people are encouraged to instal CCTVs in their commercial establishments and other places, number of cameras will be increased from current 1.5 lakh to 10 lakh.