Understand the Police for Better Assistance, Hyderabad Commissioner of Police Pervaram Ramulu

In the spreading concrete jungle, crime rate is steadily growing both in broad daylight and under the cover of darkness. The anti-social and anti-national elements are continuing with their own misdeeds in addition to the goons and rowdy sheeters taking shelter of various political flags on them. These elements are creating terror among common citizen keeping their political, money and muscle clout behind them.

Murders, chain snatching, pick pocketing, land grabbing, collecting ransoms, donations and so on created by these people. Under these violent and disturbing conditions police need to fully dedicate and devout themselves to protect the common interests of the society and drive the evil away. If not driving away, they can at the least work for keeping the crime rate under check and control.

Here is one man in the department spearheading the city unit of the Andhra Pradesh police department who says checkmating terrorism and extremist activities in the twin cities is his ambition and at the same time is a challenge for him.

Meet Mr Pervaram Ramulu, senior Indian Police Service officer, Director General and Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad through Hamarashehar.com’s interview with him.

Q: Mr Ramulu, after taking over as city police commissioner, you worked to introduce many changes in the department. You introduced mobile forces like Blue Colts and Rakshak. What are the new schemes that are on the cards in the near future?

A: Thank You! Thanks for noticing that I am bringing some changes in the system. (Hahaha…normally all you media are behind police criticising…) The main problem in the twin cities is traffic problem. In the coming days our concentration would be emphasising about easing the traffic snarls. According to our information about 100 new cars are being registered. With the increment in the vehicles, the efforts of the government in widening the existing roads are not serving the total purpose.

The Chief Minister appointed a three member high-level committee to look into this problem deeply. Me, Hyderabad Urban Development Authority Vice-Chairman Lakshmi Parthasarathi and Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad Commissioner P K Mohanty as special officer are the members of the committee.

Three of us discussed at length and decided for constructing a road over bridge in the twin cities that would be the longest in the country. It starts near Gokul Theatre in Erra Gadda and culminates at Khairathabad in the first stage landing close to Telugu Thalli crossroads. From Telugu Thalli another would take off and reach Dilsukh Nagar bus depot. The final one would form like a ‘Y’ from Telugu Thalli crossroads at Khairathabad and lands near Zoo Park at Bahadurpura.

Once these are constructed the roads leading to Vijayawada, Mumbai and Bangalore, which are key pressure traffic points would be relaxed to a major extent. All this is in planning stage for now. Recently, Lakshmi Parthasarathy and me discussed in detail with the engineers and prepared a draft plan. This plan was presented to the Chief Minister. Later, all the three members of the committee and the Chief Minister would sit on the draft plan and finalise how and what should be done for completing the project.

The first of the three phases of the project is estimated to be completed by two years, taking off from Gokul Theatre and landing at Khairathabad stretching about six kilometres. The total bridge will be constructed on latest and sound technology bases. For avoiding inconvenience to the traffic, parts of the bridge would be assembled elsewhere and will be fixed to the bridge. We can call this a pre-fabricated bridge.

Eve teasing is controlled largely in the twin cities. The second major emphasis is on the land grabbers’ problem. We apprehended five of the big land grabbers. They are now housed at Chanchalguda jail. About 25 rowdy sheeters were sent out of city police limits. After special courses in meditation and yoga some reformation was seen in many rowdy sheeters. For example, Chinna Srisailam Yadav, a rowdy sheeter, along with his family approached Ravi Shanker Mahraj at Bangalore and changed himself confessing his earlier deeds.

Twin cities has a special problem, that is communal disturbance between the Hindu and Muslim communities. We are in the thought process for finding ways and means to clear this problem. The issue is very delicate and is emerging with distrust over each other. We are mooting for attempting some peace talks through Maithri Committees. Earlier, memberships to Maithri Committees were based exclusively on recommendations. Realising this, we changed the system and are giving memberships to educated persons in the committees for effectiveness. Through these committees the department is contemplating to create awareness among people that religion and belief are different from social living.

Recently one new problem emerged in the region. Ragging. Stern action is being taken on the foul players. Engineering Technology students from Osmania University were put behind bars in some incidents. Now, we are preparing grounds to book the Principals and Wardens holding them responsible for this heinous practice.

Hyderabad and Secunderabad are also active about ISI inspired activities, CHIMA, Naxalism and LTTE. Let them tag any name to their organisation. I have special wings to take care of them. As these are undercover activities, I cannot disclose them. However, taking ‘special care’ of these organisations is a challenge for me.

For strengthening the law and order protection I am working out with a unique system. This was the first Police Commissionerate in the country instituted in 1840. Later commissionerates were set up at Kolkatha, Mumbai and Chennai. There are special powers to the commissioners of police, which were never exercised by anyone till date. With this statutory authority and power, I am planning for appointing civil police officers to associate with the department. They will be on par with sub-inspectors in the department. They can arrest, fire at, put behind bars, and investigate cases and so on. Educated people like you will be neutral and strict if you are given this task, say for three to four hours a day, that too after you finish your daily routine, job etc., Based on the population department needs over 10,000 constables in the twin cities. On an average a sum of Rs 70,000 will be spent on each constable. As this is not feasible on economical criterion, I was making my workout seriously for appointing about five thousand police officers. Major part of all the problems would be solved if this task is completed successfully.

Q: Why you are not successful in such appointment recently? What went wrong?

A: Yeah…we did appoint some. You know what happened. Our colleagues disputed the idea. “The civil police officers will come and try to boss over the department personnel. This will spoil the system.” With this argument they are trying to cut the innovative idea. This time I am going to people for a debate on the subject. If they consider this idea, I will immediately go ahead to appoint 5,000 officers.

Q: Hoisting other country’s flags and celebrating the days concerned to those nations are happening in the twin cities. Do you consider this as a crime on Constitutional or Legal grounds? What were the actions you had initiated?

A: No. No foreign flags are being hoisted illegal or against the Constitutional norms anywhere in the twin cities. Why do you want to play hide and seek? I know you are referring to Pakistan flag!

For example if we take a close look at the National tri-colour flag and Congress party tri-colour flag, the difference will be the presence of Ashoka wheel in the national flag. We will never mistake one with another, is it. Similarly, if we take note about the Pakistan flag, it will be in green and Muslims always favour green colour. If someone hoists any green flag, we are mistaking it to be a Pakistan flag. Even you must have heard of it, can you show one Pakistan flag in twin cities?…

When it comes to other flags like American, French etc., we will hoist them as a mark of respect whenever there are official delegates from those countries.

Q: Right from child adoption, ashrams through communal violence, there are many issues that are pushing innocent people into troubles. Kith and kin of some senior administrative and police service persons are involved in some of the rackets. Criticism is flooding that police department is showing sides for those people. How do you respond about this?

A: Are you referring to Anita Sen? I am a man who always likes to speak very straight. However, Central Bureau of Investigation is handling the case. Did they show any side…? If that was about something else, …Hmmm…I do not know. This is not concerned to me and I do not know one. Do not ask me about individual cases.

Q: Is the Hyderabad police unit strong enough to curb crime ranging from cheating to burglaries that are showing their impact on common people?

A: On the first day, after I took charge as Hyderabad Police Commissioner I requested people through media not to believe any Tom, Dick and Harry who offer interest on deposits more than 15 percent per annum. They are cheats. If they are not cheating one or the other, they can never pay such huge interest on deposits.

People do not take the advice, what can I do about it. There is a saying in Telugu meaning miser will be compelled to spend more. Similarly, these depositors are depositing lakhs of rupees in fraudulent organisations and are being duped. I had been telling people to deposit with any of the nationalised banks or in post offices. They never heed to our advises and run behind Videshi…Pardeshi…

Anyway, I have a Special Crime Branch functioning under my supervision. They are very effective. In the land dealings also people are being cheated left, right and centre. Other than these, recently we seized electronic equipment worth over Rs five crore. These people were cheating Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited. International calls costing Rs 73 at a peanut price of Rs 1.20 and people are again running behind them. There were no complaints against these people. Nevertheless, our special crime branch traced and tracked them and apprehended.

In this cheating there are three angles to be probed. The information about who called, who received the call will never come to light. As you said, there are chances that ISI, CHIMA or any outlawed outfits may be contacted through this cheating phone call services. Analyse yourself, how strong we are to chase and book a racket of this size. Our crime branch is literally effective, strong and can chase anyone.

Q: The Chief Minister recently was eager to get all the ‘horoscopes’ of land grabbers and take action. How far it would be legal and fair for the government to ask police to deal with the land cases? This is with reference that common people should not approach police in matters relating to fixed assets, as they are civil in nature.

A: For your kind information, they are not civil cases in nature of their litigation. Contrary to your feeling, Chief Minister is not just enthusiastic to have the ‘horoscopes’ of land grabbers on his table just like that. This is not fun for him. Thousands of acres belonging to state were encroached. Every fellow is encroaching the government land deploying some goons on the site. The Chief Minister, taking note of these circumstances is serious on the issue.

The tri-member committee comprising Mohanty, Lakshmi Parthasarathi besides me are looking to the details closely and taking action. Collectors of Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, MCH Commissioner and HUDA Chairman are supplying the official records and I am sending them behind bars as a Commissioner of Police. Recently a state Secretariat employee Narayana Rao was booked. Through illegal means he earned four houses, swimming pool, a bunglow each for his sister and brother-in-law and the list goes on. Now he is in Chanchalguda jail.

There was another person in Banjara Hills named Koteshwara Rao. All the lands around Basava Tarakam Cancer Hospital belong to him. If someone purchases a site and approaches Registrar for registration a prompt question comes from the Registrar, “did you inform Koteshwara Rao for purchasing this?” To this extent his works and contacts were found. This man is also now housed in Chanchalguda jail. These stories will go on coming. Hence, the Chief Minister is inclined in protecting the government land. That was the reason why we are cracking down on these land-grabbing gangsters.

Q: According to the Police Service Manual any purchases made above Rs one lakh should be informed to the department. Is this in practice?

A: Every morning we will be receiving many records about that. There will be intimations that they purchased fridge, coolers, and scooter and so on… if you can come sometime in the mornings you see all those files.

Q: It is an open secret that every police station has a ‘collector’. The sub-inspector, circle inspector and assistant commissioners’ comment that they are helpless in this matter, as there will be ‘quotas’ from higher-ups to be fulfilled. What do you say?

A: Corruption is not only in police department; it is prevailing in every department. Just similar to other departments, it is here. That is it all.

Q: There is information that local police personnel are collecting from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 for sending a positive report on the arms licence applicants. How do you take it?

A: A corrupt person always applies his corrupt policies everywhere. Recently one office superintendent was given compulsory retirement. I did this for his corrupt activities. Within my official limits, I indeed am working against the corruption tree.

Q: You worked as Director, Anti-Corruption Bureau before this posting. What were your achievements there?

A: Yes…My effort was great there. To mention a small achievement, prior to my entry as director, the ACB never trapped senior IAS or IPS officials. It was restricting itself trapping Commercial Tax Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, and so on. After I took over I submitted corruption files to the government on 42 senior officers including IAS and IPS. Government had taken action on some of them too and others were removed from important postings. At one instance, I trapped one IAS official who was heading department. I deployed my staff with mobile phones and walkie-talkies. He jumped out of the window and escaped. This was widely published then.

Hahaha….Hahaha…During my tenure as director, the ACB created tremors in the hearts and brains of corrupt officers for some three to four years.

Another major case we can talk about is of a Housing department retired engineer-in-chief Surender Bahadur. In front of television cameras we broke open his lockers and seized a heavy sum of Rs 3.20 crore. This was the highest ever amount seized from a government official’s corruption box. There are many such incidents.

Q: A voluntary organisation states that if the police personnel, in fact every government employee, if disclose their assets annually, similar to that legislators there is a chance for corruption to come down. To what extent do you agree to this?

A: In real terms, Yes! It is a good idea. We according to the procedures of service send all these details in a sealed cover to the state Chief Secretary on regular intervals. If you mean it to be open to public…well, the information can be published in media.

Q: There is a gap between the state police and the central police organisations. They (CBI, CIB etc.,) enter the scene when state police apprehend anti-nationals and grab all the credit towards them. Is there any chance for the gap to succinct?

A: There is nothing like that…

Q: During its three and a half centuries rule the British Empire had practically looted the country and inculcated slavery into Indians blood. Even our Constitution is also framed keeping theirs as a model. In the police department, recently, several British systems were being introduced. How do you justify that the policies that suit their nation suit us? Are we short of intelligence in the department to frame better policies?

A: Definitely, those policies do suit us. This is because a criminal is a criminal in nature be it in England or India or somewhere else. Blue Colts is a success scheme today. They are serving people in every narrow lane of the city. There is nothing called British system. We trained them in self-defence, in first aid. That’s all. We trained our personnel in corporate hospitals in first aid and awarded them lifesavers certificates. Our department lifesavers teams rescued a total of 17 persons.

There is no difference of country, Britain or America, to train life saving procedures.

Q: How far is it fair for the Indian service and highly educated persons who are supposed to work for the common interest of the country and their fellow citizens instituting religious and communal associations?

A: It is not fair at all. I hate them. I feel like aliens crawling on me immediately after I hear about the religion, caste and community associations and unions. I never attended till now or would never attend any function organised by such organisations. I never ask any human about his caste, religion or community or his nativity. If one finds a person enquiring so, he should be immediately suspended from the public service. I am dead against these community or religion based associations.

It is a sorry state of affair that, even ministers are attending to community associations’ programmes. The dirtiest ever thought and work for an educated of his life would be to attend such functions and setting up such organisations.

Q: People have a belief the police are supportive to only influential and rich of the society. When would the time come for a common man to treat police as a friend not as a foe?

A: Hope…the time should come soon.

Q: There will be subordinates shuffling immediately after a new Commissioner takes charge. Are these mandatory every time? Why there will be a need for shuffling when a unit officer changes?

A: The answer for why there will be need is that every officer has his or her own priorities. When it comes to me I did not shuffle any up to eight months after I took charge of the position. It started so, a Vinayak pandal organiser took out the procession very late after the permission time was completed, that too he was drunk. Meanwhile, a guy came out of a mosque and there was a rift between these two. What the circle inspector is doing? He should take care and handle the situation immediately. He did not do so. He should be have been suspended, I forgave him and transferred. If inefficiency is clearly exhibited, action is a must. Lest, it will lead to unforeseen consequences.

Q: In various parts of the country, there are problems relating to appointment of state police heads, DGPs. Senior police officers are approaching courts and service tribunals. Who is at fault, is that ruling politicians or the IPS officials taking their ‘blessings’?

A: The issue raised only in Karnataka. What is his name…Dinakar…he is seeming to be like a litigant fellow, every now and then for no reason at all he is going to courts and tribunals. Moreover, he is sending messages here too that he would give advice to those who wish to approach courts and tribunals in service matters. He proved that ‘a snake is a snake all the time’. He is proving this even after his retirement too.

Well, who should be DGP is at the discretion of the state government. If the Chief Minister denies to promote as DIG after becoming SP, nothing can be done. All these are selection posts. Every IPS should, in fact all the Indian service persons, remember that ‘these are not an automatic time scale posts.

Q: What you wish to urge people, for establishing a right cooperation and coordination between the department and civilians?

A: People should understand the police personnel’s problems. There were 7,500 police men for 20 lakh population in city some 20 years ago. Now the strength of police is only 9,000 for approximately 50 lakh population. There is no growth in police force proportionate to the population. Police strength is less and cases are piling up above his head. It is always swimming upstream for us. In some situations, they are testing our patience and in few occasions they are making us lose our patience.

Recently I received a call on my mobile at about 02:00 AM. The caller was asking to send to constables to take care of a dog barking in his neighbourhood. I hung up the phone asking him who was barking, was it the dog or you. He should have felt the pinch. What to do? How far is it right for him to disturb me at that hour for just bark of a dog? He knew my mobile phone number and misused it.

I do not mean that people should not directly approach me. I wish to explain that there is no necessity for every issue to come to me directly. They should first approach the local police station house officer, the circle inspector, assistant commissioner, and deputy commissioner before approaching me or any other for that matter.

I request them not to harass us queuing up with bundles of petitions. Please understand our practical problems too. We function as fire fighters, as there is a huge multiplication in crime rate in these 20 years in the twin cities limits. There is always a priority is it not?

Profile

Born in 1944 at Village Khilashapur, Warangal district Studied in village up to VI class, VII class in Devaruppala in Jangaon Taluq High School Graduation with Bachelor of Arts from Warangal Was pursuing Master of Arts in English at Osmania University Arts College, Hyderabad when selected to IPS in 1967.

Postings

Worked as A S P, Narasaraopet During 1971 War, Assistant Director, Central Intelligence Bureau Superintendent of Police at Khamma, Chittor and Nellore districts Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) North, West and East Zones of Hyderabad Deputy Inspector General of Police at Eluru and Hyderabad ranges Inspector General of Police, Welfare and Sports Transport Commissioner, Andhra Pradesh Additional Director General, Organisation Director General, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Andhra Pradesh Assumed charge as Commissioner of Police on December 15, 2000 Promoted to the rank of Director General of Police from Additional Director General of Police on May 30, 2001

Medals and Awards

Recipient of Indian Police Medal and President’s Medal for distinguished service

Other interests and hobbies

Writes short stories in Telugu published in Telugu Weeklies, Andhra Jyothi and Swathi Published a book on Police humour, Police Chamatkaralu

--Interview By Rubina Parveen
--Translated by SVL Narasimha Swamy