Silent taskmaster Anil Kant picked for Kerala’s prime police job

Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day of IPS officer Anil Kant usually begins with an hour-long run at Chandrasekharan Nair stadium. Like another long-distance runner, he begins sluggish, will increase the tempo steadily and take the successful leap within the final lap.

It was precisely the identical method that he fared within the race for State Police Chief too. The introvert Delhi-native who doesn’t have many buddies within the drive got here to the three-member shortlist of the UPSC final minute because the panel determined to strike off the identify of senior officer Tomin Thachankary. In the listing too, he was the one who had the minimal odds.

Vigilance director Sudesh Kumar had the benefit of being the senior-most officer whereas Fire and Rescue Services director B Sandhya had an opportunity to script historical past by turning into the primary lady chief of state police. Kant, who as ADGP had been the highway security commissioner, didn’t even transfer any card himself. 

When Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared his alternative for the State Police Chief on the cabinet assembly on Wednesday morning, he was additionally making it clear that he heeded the suggestion of senior officers within the drive greater than another types of lobbying. According to sources, outgoing DGP Loknath Behera and some senior officers conveyed their assist to Kant when Pinarayi had sought their opinion. 

The 1988-batch officer is ready to superannuate in January 2022. As per the Supreme Court order, the tenure of the incumbent state police chief may be prolonged to 2 years, however, the federal government has the freedom to let him retire too. In that case, Kant who additionally holds the excellence of turning into the primary police chief from the scheduled caste group must retire with a seven month tenure in workplace. 

Safety of ladies and kids prime concern, says new state police chief

Upon his choice, Kant advised reporters that security of ladies and kids is his instant concern. With the state witnessing a spate in violence towards ladies and kids, it ought to be seen what significant steps he can be taking to handle the problem. He may also have to handle the threats posed by extremism and proceed the modernisation work that former chief Loknath Behera had initiated. A former colleague, who most popular to stay incognito, stated the officers may now get extra operational freedom as Anil Kant by no means interfered within the day-to-day works of the subordinates. 

Newly-appointed State Police Chief Anil Kant being congratulated by outgoing chief Loknath Behera once they met in the course of the latter’s farewell parade ceremony held on the SAP Camp floor in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday | Vincent Pulickal

“He works silently and away from the limelight. Rarely he interferes in the work of his subordinates and gives them freedom,” he stated. A former colleague in VACB remembered him as a soft-spoken officer, who did his work with out trumpeting it. “He was liable for launching quite a lot of anti-corruption drives. It was beneath him that PWD roads have been subjected to high quality checks. Many irregularities have been unearthed in the course of the raids within the Geology and Mining Department, Beverages Corporation and the Motor Vehicles Department and these raids have been initiated by Kant.

”However, it’s to be seen how he handles the political stress that often accompanies a police chief. His predecessor Loknath Behera had a nice trip as he seldom put him in collision course with the federal government, although there have been ample probabilities for that in his five-year lengthy tenure. Besides, his administrative abilities and skills to do file-works are but untested.

Kant will now be elevated to DGP grade that arises with the retirement of Behera. On Wednesday night, he took cost from Behera on the police headquarters. Kant began his profession as ASP, Wayanad. Except whereas serving a time period within the Intelligence Bureau on deputation, Kant had been working within the Kerala cadre. He had additionally served as hearth drive director normal, prisons director normal, State Crime Records Bureau Chief and Crime Branch ADGP. He lives within the metropolis with spouse Preetha Harit.

SANDHYA, SUDESH KUMAR SKIP CEREMONYT’Puram: Outgoing state police chief Loknath Behera handed on the baton to Anil Kant on the police headquarters right here on Wednesday night. Senior officers Sudesh Kumar and B Sandhya, who have been the opposite candidates for the police chief’s put up, have been conspicuous by their absence.

Earlier the day, a farewell parade ceremony was accorded to Behera on the SAP Camp floor which was attended by the senior officers. In his speech, Behera highlighted the emotional connection he had solid over the time with the state and stated he acquired assist from all of the facet whereas finishing up his obligation.