Rishi Kumar Shukla takes over as MP’s top cop
The 1983 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Rishi Kumar Shukla, took over as the 28th director general of Madhya Pradesh police on Thursday.
The 1983 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Rishi Kumar Shukla, took over as the 28th director general of Madhya Pradesh police on Thursday.

After taking over as state’s top cop from the outgoing DGP Surendra Sinh, the new state police chief said, “The new responsibility is a major challenge, which will be performed with the best team of cops in the days to come. I will strive to ensure that even the last police constable of the one lakh-plus strong state police force realises that bringing crime to a naught is his own responsibility.”
New DGP for establishing a direct connect between the police and the people
Enlisting his priorities and challenges, Shukla said establishing a direct connect between the police and commoners through social policing would form the utmost priority.
Shukla, who earlier headed the state police housing corporation, said, “We have built 7,000 to 8,000 good houses for our cops, owing to which there is a strong possibility of positive change in their performance, particularly while dealing with people. It will be visible at all levels, particularly Jan Sunwai at the most local level, which is paramount.”
‘MP prevented spread of Maoist extremism’
The new DGP claimed that MP was among the few states which has not only controlled Maoist extremism but also prevented its spread.
“Though no major incident of Maoist violence has been reported in the state over the last five years, movement of the outlaws has been on the rise in Balaghat during the last two to three months, primarily due to operatives from outside,” he added.
‘We are alive to the threat of gunrunners’
About the challenge posed by inter-state gunrunners (sikligars) thriving in Malwa-Nimar region, Shukla said sikligars had been indulgent in arms-making for long. “Recently, they came in public spotlight due to police action against their operations. We are alive to their threat and will continue to not only act against them but also make attempts to bring them into the mainstream.”
Outgoing DGP Surendra Sinh retired as the top cop with a ceremonial parade at the Motilal Nehru Stadium in Bhopal. Recounting his 21-month period as state’s top cop, he praised the police for handling the Simhastha-2016, dealing with the Maoist menace and controlling the law and order problems.