RP Sharma takes charge as fourth commissioner of police

BHUBANESWAR: Soon after appointed by the State Government on Monday, 1986 batch IPS officer Rajendra Prasad Sharma who was in central deputation since September 7, 2004 assumed office on Tuesday as the new police commissioner of the twin city. He became the fourth officer to hold the top post of the commissionerate police replacing Sunil Ray.

The new police commissioner briefing the media persons here said that prevention and detection of crimes would be his top priority and would try to give maximum security to the women and senior citizen of the city.

Sharma said that he would give special attention towards controlling of illegal gun trading, extortion related crime and other petty crimes. “We will go strong against the street criminals and organising criminals which will take time,” he said, adding, “We will work with all our strength to win the heart of the people.”

Sharma said that he would try to strengthen the manpower for functioning of the commissionerate police system well. He also emphasised upon community policing and people friendly police in the twin-city.

Sharma who was continuing as IGP, National Security Guard, had served as an ‘anti-corruption and crime prevention expert’ with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). He had also served with the UN Peacekeeping Mission. Sharma was SP of Baleswar, Kalahandi and Brahmapur and DIG (central range) before leaving on central deputation.