Bengaluru, Mar 1 (DHNS): Senior IPS officer Om Prakash on Saturday took charge as Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) of the State.

A 1981 batch IPS officer, Om Prakash received the baton from L R Pachuau, who attained superannuation, at the State police chief office marking the change of guard. He was the Director General of Home Guard and Fire Force before being elevated as the DG&IGP.

Om Prakash will have about 23 months at his disposal as he will attain superannuation in January 2017.

A native of Piprasi village, Champaran district in Bihar and an MSc (Geology) graduate, Om Prakash vowed to serve the police force according to norms and address the issues of prevention, detection and investigation of crimes.

“I believe in team spirit and unity as no single individual can achieve anything significant in police force. Though policing is a tough job, I feel great things could be achieved with duty-mindedness, having a sense of responsibility, following the strict mandate and practising the principles of unity and team spirit,” Om Prakash, who has to his credit the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Services and President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, said.

He said the issues of terrorism and traffic would be his top priorities and he would also stress prosecution. “I seek the cooperation of subordinate staff as credit for commendable job goes to them,” he added.

Pachuau thanked the government for providing him an opportunity to serve at the highest position in the police force. He said he could well address two terror cases - an explosion near BJP office in Malleswaram in Bengaluru on April 17, 2013 and a crude bomb blast at Church Street on December 28, 2014, - arrest a few suspected ultras, tackle the exodus of people from North East region due to meticulous probe and planning by subordinate staff.

“I leave the office with full satisfaction as I am leaving the force in the safest hands of Om Prakash,” he added.

Legal battle ahead?

There was suspense till 5 pm on Saturday about who would replace L R Pachuau as a note from the government said the new DG&IGP will take charge around 5.20 pm. The staff at the State police chief office went on making preparations even as they anxiously waited for the specific name from the government. An official communication was received around 5.10 pm stating that Om Prakash has been elevated to replace Pachuau.

The issue of appointment of DG&IGP is likely to witness a legal battle as Sushant Mahapatra, one of the contenders for the top post, deciding to challenge the government’s decision in the court. Mahapatra claims that he was senior to Om Prakash and the government did ignore the court’s directions of considering seniority while making appointment to this coveted post.

Mahapatra was absent when Pachuau handed over the charge to Omprakash. The government had finalised the names of CBI additional director R K Dutta, Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation DGP Sushant Mahapatra, CID DGP Bipin Gopalakrishna and Om Prakash for the post.