Bastar SP Sheikh Aarif Hussain honoured with IACP Award

Bastar Superintendent of Police (SP) Sheikh Aarif Hussain has been awarded the prestigious International Association of Chief of Police (IACP) Award 2017 in Pennsylvania in the 'Homeland Security' category for his campaign 'Amcho Bastar, Amcho Police'.

Arif Sheikh has become the only Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the country to win this award in community policing twice in a row.

Arif Shaikh has dedicated this award to the martyrs, who have sacrificed their life at the altar of their duty in Bastar and to the brave and innocent tribals of the region, who have supported and collaborated with the Bastar Police in this fight against the Naxalism.

Through his campaign, the Bastar Police have come to the aid of few children, who were trapped in the clutches of the Bal Sangham of Maoists, who were used to plant IEDs against the security personnel. They also tried to bring back the surrendered Maoists into the mainstream by giving them alternative earning opportunities.

The 'Amcho Bastar, Amcho Police' initiative aimed at bridging the gap between the police and the tribal communities by assimilating with their culture. At the same time, the police has focussed on neutralising the Left wing extremist and also by encouraging the ultras to surrender and join the main stream.

The annual IACP award ceremony and Banquet was held today in the Pennsylvania convention centre in a majestic ceremony.

The IACP is a 126-year-old organisation of all the chiefs of police in the U.S. with its headquarters located in Virginia.

The IACP president, Donald W. De Lucca, was the chief guest. The other guests of honour were the executive board directors of the IACP.

Total 15 different awards were given in various categories including forensic sciences, prevention of terrorism, community policing, human rights awards, victim services awards and Reuters awards for excellence in criminal investigations et al.

The IACP/Cisco Leadership award in community policing recognises outstanding community policing initiatives undertaken by law enforcement agencies worldwide.

The other agencies across the world which won the community policing awards were the Oelwein Police department from Iowa, the Monrovia Police department from California, the Roanoke Police department from Virginia, the Fujairah Police department from the U.A.E. and the Arlington Police department from Texas.