Om Prakash Narwal takes charge as Faridabad police commissioner

He outlined his key priorities such as improving traffic management, enhancing women’s safety, and responding promptly to complaints from senior citizens

Updated on: Aug 19, 2024, 06:02:18 IST

By Leena Dhankhar, Faridabad

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Om Prakash Narwal, who took over as police commissioner of Faridabad on Saturday, met senior police officers, and directed deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) and assistant commissioners of police (ACPs) to address all pending issues, police said on Sunday.

Narwal’s appointment as police commissioner comes following the Haryana government’s transfer orders issued on Friday. Narwal is a 2006 batch officer. Narwal previously served as the joint commissioner of police in Faridabad. His career with Haryana Police includes leadership roles such as the superintendent of police in Fatehabad and Jind districts, and deputy inspector general (DIG) of law and order, and DIG administration. Born in 1968 in Kathura village of Sonipat, he was awarded the police medal in 2017 for service.

Narwal on Sunday outlined his key priorities for Faridabad such as improving traffic management, enhancing women’s safety, and responding promptly to complaints from senior citizens. He also said he would intensify actions against drug traffickers to make Faridabad a drug-free city.

“There are already some plans in place. We will see how much they have been implemented. If we think a modification in traffic scheme or better deployment of personnel is required, we will implement them and this will be done with immediate effect. We will ensure that we follow and complete the initiatives that were launched by the previous commissioner. The project of identifying over 300 hot spots in collaboration with the Red Dot Foundation, Mumbai, to install CCTV cameras, increasing patrols, and conducting awareness programmes will be done on priority. These measures have led to a reduction in serious crimes such as rape and we will ensure all the major spots are under surveillance. Additionally, awareness programmes on cybercrime and road safety have reached thousands of people in schools, colleges, and companies and will continue in the district,” he said.

Under the previous commissioner, Rakesh Kumar Arya’s tenure, 18 most-wanted criminals were arrested, 55 gangs were dismantled, 101 suspects were apprehended, and property worth ₹1,22,68,550 was recovered from 172 solved cases.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More