Markus
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Man who killed Veerappan to head CRPF
CHENNAI/NEW DELHI: Signalling a firmer approach to battling Maoists in the jungles of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bengal and Orissa, the home ministry on Saturday brought in jungle warfare specialist and the man who shot to fame as Veerapan slayer, K Vijay Kumar, as head of Central Reserve Police Force.
Director general Vikram Srivastava's tenure had been plagued by a series of embarrassing attacks on the CRPF in Dantewada in which more than 100 paramilitary personnel were massacred, leaving the force demoralized.
Srivastava had come under attack after the Dantewada massacre in which 75 CRPF men lost their lives in a Maoist attack on April 6 in Chhattisgarh. Made CRPF DG in February this year, he has now been made chief of the Bureau of Police Research and Development in Delhi.
He raised many eyebrows because of his circular requiring CRPF units in anti-Naxalite operations to fill up a form giving information on 32 counts, before setting out on an operation. Many felt that the form-filling drill would hobble the paramilitary troopers, reducing them to babus rather than a quick-footed force.
Kumar's hallmark has been his get-up-and-go style of functioning. When it comes to operations, he has a reputation for being a ruthless taskmaster. He makes his men trek and hike for hours, carrying minimum rations and maximum ammo. It is such aspects that are likely to keep the CRPF in good stead as the 58-year-old officer takes on the task of intensifying the hunt for Maoists.
Kumar, who currently heads the police training academy in Hyderabad, is easily the most sought-after officer in the uniformed services. His experience ranges from jungle warfare and security detail to counterinsurgency. It came as a surprise when the Tamil Nadu government overlooked him while appointing Letika Saran as DGP this January. It was also one of the rare occasions when the officer made his displeasure known by filing an affidavit challenging the government's contention that the officer heading the National Police Academy, Hyderabad, was "unwilling" to serve the state.
He was one of the three men handpicked for the elite SPG to guard former PM Rajiv Gandhi in 1985. He left the special group a year before Rajiv was assassinated, and took over as the head of SPG guarding J Jayalalithaa. In 1998, he was called in as IG, operations of BSF in Jammu & Kashmir an assignment the 1975 batch IPS officer considers one of the most challenging and satisfying in his 35-year career.
When Veerappan cocked a snook at the collective might of three southern states, killing elephants and kidnapping VIPs at will, the Tamil Nadu government knew who to call.
The sharpshooter with a penchant for fitness is a voracious reader too. After any media interview, as the reporter is about to leave, Kumar would invariably have one question: "Which book are you reading now?" His taste ranges from John Keegan's "History of Warfare" to Jeffrey Archer's novels. The man of many hats has a colourful collection of service caps, too. Proud of his ceremonial IPS cap, which he chose over IAS, Kumar's favourite is the beret. Fighting Maoist terror may yet be the biggest challenge of his career.
In deciding on Kumar's appointment, the government may have superseded two senior IPS officers, Vijay Raman (1975 batch) and N K Tripathi (1974 batch). Both of them are from the Madhya Pradesh cadre and are currently posted as special directors general in the CRPF.
Srivastava is a 1973 batch IPS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre and takes over as BPRD chief from Prasun Mukherjee, who retired on September 30.
CHENNAI/NEW DELHI: Signalling a firmer approach to battling Maoists in the jungles of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bengal and Orissa, the home ministry on Saturday brought in jungle warfare specialist and the man who shot to fame as Veerapan slayer, K Vijay Kumar, as head of Central Reserve Police Force.
Director general Vikram Srivastava's tenure had been plagued by a series of embarrassing attacks on the CRPF in Dantewada in which more than 100 paramilitary personnel were massacred, leaving the force demoralized.
Srivastava had come under attack after the Dantewada massacre in which 75 CRPF men lost their lives in a Maoist attack on April 6 in Chhattisgarh. Made CRPF DG in February this year, he has now been made chief of the Bureau of Police Research and Development in Delhi.
He raised many eyebrows because of his circular requiring CRPF units in anti-Naxalite operations to fill up a form giving information on 32 counts, before setting out on an operation. Many felt that the form-filling drill would hobble the paramilitary troopers, reducing them to babus rather than a quick-footed force.
Kumar's hallmark has been his get-up-and-go style of functioning. When it comes to operations, he has a reputation for being a ruthless taskmaster. He makes his men trek and hike for hours, carrying minimum rations and maximum ammo. It is such aspects that are likely to keep the CRPF in good stead as the 58-year-old officer takes on the task of intensifying the hunt for Maoists.
Kumar, who currently heads the police training academy in Hyderabad, is easily the most sought-after officer in the uniformed services. His experience ranges from jungle warfare and security detail to counterinsurgency. It came as a surprise when the Tamil Nadu government overlooked him while appointing Letika Saran as DGP this January. It was also one of the rare occasions when the officer made his displeasure known by filing an affidavit challenging the government's contention that the officer heading the National Police Academy, Hyderabad, was "unwilling" to serve the state.
He was one of the three men handpicked for the elite SPG to guard former PM Rajiv Gandhi in 1985. He left the special group a year before Rajiv was assassinated, and took over as the head of SPG guarding J Jayalalithaa. In 1998, he was called in as IG, operations of BSF in Jammu & Kashmir an assignment the 1975 batch IPS officer considers one of the most challenging and satisfying in his 35-year career.
When Veerappan cocked a snook at the collective might of three southern states, killing elephants and kidnapping VIPs at will, the Tamil Nadu government knew who to call.
The sharpshooter with a penchant for fitness is a voracious reader too. After any media interview, as the reporter is about to leave, Kumar would invariably have one question: "Which book are you reading now?" His taste ranges from John Keegan's "History of Warfare" to Jeffrey Archer's novels. The man of many hats has a colourful collection of service caps, too. Proud of his ceremonial IPS cap, which he chose over IAS, Kumar's favourite is the beret. Fighting Maoist terror may yet be the biggest challenge of his career.
In deciding on Kumar's appointment, the government may have superseded two senior IPS officers, Vijay Raman (1975 batch) and N K Tripathi (1974 batch). Both of them are from the Madhya Pradesh cadre and are currently posted as special directors general in the CRPF.
Srivastava is a 1973 batch IPS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre and takes over as BPRD chief from Prasun Mukherjee, who retired on September 30.
I guess you meant chief 
