The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Jyotiprakash Mirji replaces Bidari as City Police Commissioner

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Tuesday, May 03, 2011
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Jyotiprakash Mirji replaces Bidari as City Police Commissioner

Staff Reporter

Transfer has nothing to do with appointment of DGP: Bidari

— Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

Change of guard:Outgoing police Commissioner Shankar M. Bidari handing over charge to

BANGALORE: B.G. Jyotiprakash Mirji, a 1982 batch Indian Police Service officer attached to the Karnataka cadre, took over as 26 {+t} {+h} Police Commissioner of the city on Monday. Mr. Mirji, who was Additional Director-General of Police (Railways) swapped places with outgoing Police Commissioner Shankar M. Bidari, who is set to take over as ADGP Railways.

Like Mr. Bidari, Mr. Mirji also shot into the limelight during his stint with the Special Task Force, which was formed to nab forest brigand Veerappan. He, however, is credited with planning “operation cocoon”, which resulted in the death of Veerappan in October 2004. He has also been decorated twice with the President's Police Medal.

An interaction

Addressing presspersons after taking over, Mr. Mirji said that he would continue the precedent set by his predecessor and strive to uphold law and order. In what appeared to be a softening of the stand on the city's night life, Mr. Mirji said: “We will not be rigid. We will take the people's view into account. Elderly people have a certain view on the subject whereas the youth has a different view. We will take it all into consideration before coming to a conclusion.”

Meanwhile, reacting to the swap, which took many by surprise, Mr. Bidari said: “I am a disciplined officer of the government. This transfer has nothing to do with (controversy surrounding) the appointment of the Director-General of Police.”

Mr. Bidari, who filed a case in the High court regarding to the DGP's appointment said, “The case is with regard to consideration of officers for the post of DGP according to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs for empanelment by the Union Public Service Commission.”

He said that after the UPSC empanels three officers, it is the prerogative of the State Government to select any one of them and appoint him/her as the DGP.

“The court's verdict on the matter will come shortly. This transfer has nothing to do with that,” Mr. Bidari stated.

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