Neelamani Raju takes charge as Karnataka's first woman DGP

Senior IPS officer Neelamani N Raju has taken charge as the first womanDirector General of Police of Karnataka.
Soon after assuming charge last evening, Raju said her ascendance to the top post had boosted the morale of other women IPS officers in the state.
The DGP said she wants to make police stations more women-friendly and providing security is her top priority.
Thanking the government for reposing faith in her, Raju said there were challenges ahead in Karnataka where assembly elections are due early next year.
She also said 'Tipu Jayanthi', being opposed by the BJP, is a "big challenge" but she was confident of handling the situation.

The state government is celebrating the birthanniversary of the 18th Century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan onNovember 10. The move has been opposed tooth and nail by theBJP which sees Tipu Sultan as a "religious bigot" and a "brutal killer".

An IPS officer of 1983 batch, 57-year-oldRaju replaced Rupak Kumar Dutta who retired.
Though there were other claimants for the post, the government gave preference to the seniority.
Her husband D N Narasimha Raju had retired as principal secretary to the chief minister last year.