Trying to understand ground realities

At last the administration has found an IPS to head the police force as SSP Ardh Kumbh Mela 2007 in the holy city of Prayag. Rajeev Sabharwal of 1995 batch assumed his office here Friday. Till now he was posted as commandant, 41 PAC battalion at Gaziabad.

Rajeev Sabharwal SSP, Ardh Kumbh

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At last the administration has found an IPS to head the police force as SSP Ardh Kumbh Mela 2007 in the holy city of Prayag. Rajeev Sabharwal of 1995 batch assumed his office here Friday. Till now he was posted as commandant, 41 PAC battalion at Gaziabad. The excerpts from the interview:

1: Have you ever had the opportunityto lead the police force to handle such a big event like Ardh Kumbh Mela with a few thousand men in uniform at your command?

No, I haven't.

2: Then how will you handle a mammoth crowd and a police force which looks at every person as a criminal?

During the 1995 Ardh Kumbh an opportunity came when the administration posted me as a trainee in the on- going fair. I was there in the capacity of a circle officer and as such I have gained some experience of how things are managed.

3: What else would you do to update yourself?

I have chalked out a list of SSPs posted here earlier to handle the Ardh Kumbh and the Kumbh fair. I will talk to them and take necessary guidance and advice. This would certainly help me in understanding the ground realities and make work easier. Besides, blueprint of the way things were done in previous fairs is available here . I shall study it thoroughly.

4: Will you be able to perform the twin role of a police officer to handle the police force and of providing convenience to lakhs of common people who come to the Sangam for a holy dip with deep faith and devotion?

Yes. These two tasks will have to be performed by me simultaneously. The cops who are assigned the mela duty will be strictly told not to view the crowd as a band of criminals but devotees. Thrust will be given to ensure that each and every devotee gets proper treatment, has a safe dip and goes back safely.

5: Do you feel terrorists might strike during the Ardh Kumbh fair ?

Although there is no such information, yet all arrangements will be made to tackle the situation. There will be enough number of special forces to deal with any such situation with inputs from intelligence. So there should be no cause for worry.