New man takes over from Ironman. 

 

Encounters of criminals are not an anathema to Nagpur’s new Commissioner of Police Vishwas Nangre Patil -- provided those are within the framework of the law and necessitated by situation. With this assertion, the new top cop highlighted his philosophy of evidence-based policing. No effort would be spared to achieve this, Vishwas Nangre Patil declared at his first press conference in the city after taking over charge of office from his immediate predecessor Dr. Ravinder Kumar Singal. The new Commissioner of Police said, his priorities would be properly maintaining law and order, preventing crime, improving conviction rates and ensuring the safety of women, children and other vulnerable sections of society.

 

Assuring citizens that only criminals should fear the police, Patil said, he had been entrusted with the confidence of the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Director General of Police Sadanand Date and would serve Nagpur with honesty, professionalism and complete commitment to the Constitution. “I have received the trust of the Chief Minister and the expectations of the Director General of Police. My responsibility is to justify that trust through sincere work,” Patil said. He said, the Police Department would focus on professional and core policing. “Our priorities will be law and order, prevention of crime, improving conviction rates and giving special attention to weaker sections of society, especially women and children. We will prepare a clear timeline and a proper blueprint for implementation. Every officer will have defined responsibilities and all efforts will be aimed at serving the common people,” he said. Patil stressed, policing cannot succeed without public participation. He said, every responsible citizen is a partner in maintaining peace and security.

 

Focus on core policing, public trust and women’s safety

 

“Every citizen is also a police officer without a uniform. We want to take the people along as one team. We will implement the concept of ‘Smart Policing’ as envisioned by the Prime Minister. Our force will be well-trained, technology-driven and citizen-friendly. The Indian Police Service was created to serve the people after Independence. The police should not be feared by ordinary citizens. Only criminals should fear the police,” he said. Responding to questions about the recent controversy over his participation in a programme organised by a social organisation, Patil firmly said his commitment has always been to the Constitution of India and that, he had not violated any service rules. “I respect everyone. I am an Indian Police Service officer and my commitment is to the Contd from page 1 Constitution. I have taken charge in Nagpur, the city of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Deekshabhoomi and I remain fully committed to constitutional values,” he said. Explaining the context of the programme held on April 19, Patil said, it was organised to spread awareness about yoga and social values. “The programme was organised for public awareness. Spiritual leaders, including Sudhanshu Ji Maharaj, had also participated. I was invited along with my family.

 

My address was entirely about spirituality, social awareness and positive values,” he said. Patil added that, he regularly attends programmes of different religions and communities as part of his public responsibilities. “I have attended programmes during Ramzan and Eid. I have also participated in programmes organised by Buddhist, Jain and Christian communities. My duty is to attend constructive social programmes and spread awareness whenever required,” he said. Clarifying what he had spoken about during the event, Patil said, his speech focused on unity, brotherhood and fighting social problems. “I spoke about the message that there is one God for all. I quoted a mantra from the Upanishad and spoke about universal brotherhood. I also spoke about the fight against drug addiction and the importance of positive social values. Everything I said was well within the framework of the law. I have not violated any conduct rules,” he said. Patil said, policing should not remain only reactive, but must also focus on education, awareness and prevention.

 

 

 

“Police work is not limited to taking action after a crime takes place. Education, awareness and preventive policing are equally important. Social organisations working constructively can play an important role in this effort,” he added. Speaking about his working style, Patil said, he was known for spending long hours in the field and interacting directly with citizens. “I have come here to work day and night. Night patrolling is my passion.

 

I believe the police should remain visible among the people at all times. We have a competent police force and together, we will work honestly for the city,” he said. Patil said, protecting students and young people from crime and drug addiction would receive special attention. “We have to save our students and youth from destructive influences. Women’s safety will remain one of our highest priorities. Every woman and every girl should feel safe even when there is no police officer standing nearby. That is the real test of effective policing,” he said. Recalling his earlier initiatives, Patil said, he had launched 100 Nirbhaya squads to strengthen women’s safety and promised to continue such focused efforts wherever necessary. He also said, Nagpur is rapidly emerging as an important commercial hub and therefore requires modern policing based on scientific methods. “We will adopt evidence-based policing. The crime pattern of every area is different.

 

We will study the city’s demographics and crime trends before preparing our policing strategy. Proper planning based on evidence will help us deliver better results,” he said. Patil further assured citizens that the police would enforce the law fairly and without discrimination. “Our responsibility is to implement the law effectively. I have come here with only one objective -to serve the people of Nagpur honestly,” he said. He also stressed the importance of improving the morale of police personnel, saying a motivated force is essential for better policing. “Boosting the morale of police officers and employees is one of my important responsibilities. If anyone attacks a police officer, it is as good as attacking me personally. We will firmly protect our personnel, while ensuring they serve the people with professionalism and integrity,” he said. Patil also referred to ‘Operation Thunder’ as one of the focused initiatives that would continue as part of efforts to strengthen policing and public safety across Nagpur.