Senior IPS officer Alok Kumar Verma today took charge as the new Commissioner of Delhi Police at a time it is battling mounting criticism over handling of the JNU row.
Verma (58) succeeded B S Bassi, who was at loggerheads with the AAP government on a range of issues in the last one year, to become the 20th police commissioner of the force with a strength of over 80,000 personnel.
Verma, a 1979 batch IPS officer of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory) cadre, was serving as the Director General of Tihar jail till date. He assumes charge of Delhi Police when it is battling mounting criticism over handling of the JNU row.
In his first addressal speech to the entire police force over wireless, Verma said that ensuring security to senior citizens, women and weaker sections of the society will remain his priority areas and he expects the force to focus not only on grievous offences but also on petty crimes, which troubles the common man on a daily basis.
He also said that the doors of his office are always open for the common man to come and seek solutions for their problems.
"I am proud to be given the opportunity of working with Delhi Police. Together we will work towards betterment and strengthening of Delhi Police.
"Factors like community, caste and religion should never obstruct our functioning and I expect from my force to focus not only on grievous offences but also on petty crimes which troubles the common man on a daily basis.
"I expect that every Delhi Police personnel stays away from corruption, rudeness and barbarism... Ensuring security to senior citizens, women and weaker sections of the society will remain our priority areas," the new police chief said.
Calling constable "spine" of the police force, Verma said that the supervisory authority should ensure better communication with their subordinates to make sure that all problems they confront on the field are dealt with at the earliest.
He also said that he would put untost efforts accommodation, barracks and mess facilities of police officials.
"The doors of my office are always open for the common man to come and seek solutions for their problems," he added.
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Verma, who had joined as DG of Tihar on August 6, 2014 after serving as Special Commissioner of Police (Administration), is set to retire in 17 months.
As the new police chief Verma will inherit a range of pending cases, including that of Sunanda Pushkar's death and the sediton case in connection with the controversial JNU event.
Verma has served Delhi Police in a number of positions, including Deputy Commissioner of Police in south district, Joint Commissioner of the Crime Branch and New Delhi Range and as Special Commissioner in the Intelligence and Vigilance units.
He also had served as the Inspector General of Police in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Director General of Police (DGP) of Puducherry.
Hours before handing over charge to Verma, outgoing Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi today took an apparent dig at the AAP government, saying Delhi Police's autonomy is "sacrosanct" and those who have questioned it should be made to look at history.
"Delhi Police's functional autonomy is sacrosanct. Those who have raised questions regarding Delhi Police's autonomy, should be taken back in time and made to look into history," Bassi said at his farewell parade in New Police Lines here.
Later in the day, after handing over the reins of the over 80,000 strong police force to Verma, Bassi told reporters, "I am extremely happy to have served in police force for 38 years, 7 months and 18 days. I believe I got ample opportunities to serve public and I have made the most of it."
Bassi then left the police headquarters with the entire top brass bidding him farewell near the front lawn.
