In Srinagar, Bibhuti Pati spoke exclusively to the first Odia Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu and Kashmir Rashmi Ranjan Swain. Here are the excerpts:
 
You are away from your native place in Odisha for quite long. What would you say about your command over Odia and Odisha?
 
(Laughs) Odisha is my birthplace and Jammu Kashmir (J&K) is my world of action or you can say the terrain of labour (Karmbhoomi). This Karmbhoomi has given all the name and fame to me. I belong to the brave Odia fighter community and I am ready to sacrifice myself for this land of J&K. My motherland Odisha has taught me to do my duties with utmost devotion for my Karmbhoomi and serve my country. About my speaking chaste Odia, it has a history. I was studying in Bhubaneswar Sainik School, where one studies mother tongue (Odia in my case) till class VIII. For the rest of my school days, I did not have any connection with Odia. When I entered college, I was not interested in studying Odia again. But my elder sister Prof Sabita Pradhan insisted that I should continue to be connected with Odia. Under pressure I studied Odia again during my intermediate class. Every day my sister and I have long conversations in chaste and fluent Odia.
 
How do the police propose to wage a war against terrorism?
 
No one can be better than the Jammu and Kashmir Police in fighting terrorism as no one knows the topography and demography like police personnel. Police and security agencies have made a strong resolution to fight against local terror recruitment. I have organised a series of meetings with different border districts stressing upon the officers to maintain zero tolerance against terrorism, narcotics smuggling and corruption. We have decided to take stricter action against the supporters of terror. One of the very concrete steps that we have taken is rejuvenating border police posts and strengthening the intelligence.
The civilian killings have come down drastically.
 
About narco-terrorism and drone crime?
 
Yes, narco-terrorism is a great challenge for us and a threat for the public. These days, narco- terrorism, separatism and local crime have all joined hands against the police and security forces. Countering this is a major issue and an overwhelming task for us. Our neighbouring State is encouraging such nefarious activities to create disturbance in India. Our present strategy has successfully controlled it, but much more needs to be done on this front. We have formulated a master plan to tackle this. Under this plan we will decapitate the mastermind drug peddlers financially by seizing all their movable and immovable properties along with their bank accounts and homes. The drug mafias will be rendered financially and socially powerless. This will be a signal to other such criminals to not to get involved in these businesses. The moment they find that this business is no longer profitable they will gradually step back from it. This is a long term plan which will see its success over a period of time. Similarly, drone crime is also posing a big threat to the security of the country especially in the border areas. As of now, no technology has been found to counter drone crime. But we have our plans in place such as strengthening intelligence in our border areas and creating awareness amongst the people living in the border villages. We are keeping a 24X7 hour vigil in and around the area; so we can find out who comes to claim any kind of objectionable materials like arms or weapons or drugs etc delivered by the drones.
 
I have heard about your holding a ‘Public Darbar’?
 
‘Public Darbar’ is one of the steps to connect with people directly. We would try our best to bring back misguided youth but at the same time would not leave those who motivate them to join terror ranks. Meeting with people would help us to know different issues people are confronted with. We can solve some issues on the spot and some can take time. The Police Department’s focus would be to ensure a fast-track grievance redressal system. Those who met me during the Darbar were upbeat as they were given a patient hearing. They expressed deep hope that their issues would now be solved as early as possible.
 
What is your plan for winter security?
 
In our maiden interaction, I as the DGP and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Northern Command Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi strategised a winter security plan for building cohesion and synergy between the forces with a resolve to bolster safety and security of J&K. The significance of the meeting was in the backdrop of challenges – the winter season brings in its fold – in the form of spurt in infiltration bids before the closure of infiltration routes by the snowfall.
 
Your focus?
 
My primary goal and focus is how the youth of J&K will be completely discouraged to join terrorist organisations and groups. Zero-recruitment for the terror organisation would be my first priority. In comparison to 2022 where around 110 youngsters joined in terror groups, today in 2023 the number has drastically come down to only 12.