Eliminating dacoity is priority: DGP

Bhopal, Sep 23 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh's newly-appointed Director General of Police A R Pawar today said elimination of dacoity is one of his priorities.

Talking to mediapersons after assuming charge, Mr Pawar said he would focus on maintaining communal harmony and eliminating dacoity besides ending betting.

''With the objective of maintaining law and order, police modernisation, better training of police personnel and their welfare would be taken up,'' he said.

He said he would focus on elimination of dacoits rather than securing their surrender.

On political interference in police administration, the newly-appointed DGP said there could be political expectations to maintain law and order but any kind of political interference must be opposed.

Describing naxalism as a major problem, he said the menace could not be tackled with simple law and order measures and required better coordination between the Centre and the concerned states.

Dodging queries on possible IPS reshuffle, Mr Pawar said reshuffle could be done if required but said there must be parameters for such a reshuffle.

Regarding haste in registering a case against outgoing DGP Swaraj Puri, he said police had registered the case on the directives of the court and since the matter was sub-judice he would not comment upon it.

On increase in peddling of narcotic substances, Mr Pawar said it was an international problem and could be controlled with better coordination among all the states.

Earlier, Mr Puri handed over the charge of the DGP to Mr Pawar.

On the occasion, Mr Puri said he had performed his duties without malice and hoped the new police chief will carry the tradition forward.

UNI AG-PS SP KN1522