Bullet for Bullet- My Life As a Police

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I would not have attempted this book had it not been for the insistence or my many friends and the many requests from junior police officers that I should write. There is an impression, largely erroneous, that I was privy to many state secrets. The contents of this book may disappoint those who expect that I will now let them into suck secrets. Politics has never interested me. The affairs of State were not something that I would willingly get involved in. Governor Siddharth Shankar Ray of Punjab once mentioned that Chief Minister Surjeet Singh Barnala, while praising my professional competence, had despaired of the fact that I did not understand politics at all! This made the chief minister's task of pleasing his political supporters more difficult than it already was. This was during my stint as director-general of the Punjab Police.

As a senior police officer, entrusted with the task of policing Bombay city for more than three years.From 1982 to 1985, and later while tackling terrorism in the Punjab, from 1986 to 1989, I had occasion to meet senior political leaders and bureaucrats and of interacting with them on matters of vital concern to the public. This book will touch on the discussions I held with these leaders and the decisions that were taken. For example, the decision to arrest the Shiv Sena shakha pramukhs during the height of the communal riots in Bombay in 1984 and the belated release of the Jodhpur detainees in 1988 find mention here.

My book reflects my philosophy of policing. I am aware that not many police officers will subscribe to this philosophy. It has evolved from my own inherent nature and upbringing. It has stood me in good stead with the people wherever I have served. It was generally accepted by the police officer and men whom I had the privilege-and good fortune-to command. My greatest satisfaction and reward has been that in each district, city or state where I was posted during my career, the public and the police force have stood by me. There could be no greater reward. Some or my seniors were not happy with me. Since their philosophy of policing was different. Their displeasure did not surprise me. I did not attempt to oppose or defy them because that would have been suicidal in a hierarchical organization. But I watched them closely and decided to avoid doing what I found distasteful. I must say here that I was never forced to conform to instructions or methods that went against my principles. But superiors who had their own axes to grind found me inconvenient. Suspicions built up. Most of them quite unnecessary. This was in 1966-1967.

The first time I had a problem with my departmental superiors in the course of my service was in Pune. A group of senior officers was arraigned against me. Since they attempted to build a case on totally false premises, they did not succeed. Adverse remarks made by them in my confidential records were summarily rejected by the chief secretary of the state government.

The second time I faced problems was when I was the additional commissioner of police in Bombay. I was already the recipient of the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service. My immediate superior had decided that he did not like me even before I started to work with him. I had heard from some of my friends in Pune that he had criticized me and my work as DCP Pune or Poona as it was earlier called, though he himself was now here near that city at that particular stage of my career.