The 1984-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) Officer & State Director General Jail, Somesh Goel today took over as New Police Chief of Himachal replacing incumbent DGP and 1985-batch IPS Officer Mr. Sanjay Kumar who elevated as Director General NDRF yesterday. Earlier Mr. Goel has held the post of Director General of SSB and state DGP Jail, however, he had superseded by his junior IPS, Mr. Kumar with a change of the Government in the State.
Mr. Goel who is senior to his predecessor outgoing DGP Sanjay Kumar had not elevated to this post as state Vigilance probe into police Shoe scam was pending against him during BJP Government. Earlier Government was also contemplating to elevate 1986 batch IPS officer and DG home guard Mr. S R Mardi on this post. Elevation of Mr. Goel as top cop indicates that state government followed due process in time of state assembly election as he was senior most IPS in the State.
Interacting with media person Mr. Goel said that after reforming state Jail department he is committed to making this state Narcotic and Synthetic Drugs free. He said that monitoring system would be made proper so that drug peddlers could not penetrate porous borders after deploying ample police person and equipment. Hailing the prevailing efforts launched during the time of his predecessor Mr. Kumar to completely uproot cannabis and opium shrubs from the public and private land in the State he said to extend support to Chief Secretary VC Pharka to continue the drive with same zeal claiming to reap good result.
Targeting four areas including Drug menace, crime against the woman, law and order and safe transport, Mr. Goel said that he wants to make the police people-friendly and discipline so that good relation exists between the people and force to expeditiously address crime. Referring to heaping complaints against own police officers he argued that involvement of and staff in the crime to be dealt transparently as there are sufficient stringent provisions in the law against cops if they themselves indulge in any criminal activity.
Responding to the query about involvement of some bully top police officers in the perpetration of crime and bypassing Police HQ owing to their direct link with the powerful politicians, DGP explains that he would be absolutely free as far as he was concerned and never succumbs to anyone extraneous pressure. ”Moreover police could not evade the people complaint under any external pressure as it is also accountable to the court to register the case.” DGP said.
”If anyone feels that any police station does not lodge FIR to his complaint he could move to court and in such case, any police officer could avoid lodging the FIR” he pointed out. ”As far as alleged involvement of SP Shimla Mr. D W Negi in alleged suicide is concerned, DGP assured to media that matter would be discussed with SP Kinnuar who is at police HQ today to take suitable action.” Mr. Goel said. Doing away the culture of red tapism in the force he said that police would sort out burning issues of public expeditiously. Accepting force challenge during braving the heavy crowd of tourists he said that sporadic crimes always inevitable in the hill state, however, it is largely peaceful and very less prone to organized crime.
