New police chief vows to make Delhi safe for women

Delhi’s 20th police commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi has resolved to make Delhi safe, particularly for women and children.

Bassi, a 1977 batch IPS officer told media persons after taking charge from Neeraj Kumar, “If I could summarise in a sentence I would say that my priority would be to give Delhiites a safe Delhi, and for that I will try that every Delhi policeman will contribute to his best".

"On specific issues, I would say that safety of women and children would be on priority. Steps will be taken to make Delhi safe for women anytime and at any place," 57-year-old Bassi said.

Asked how he plans to bring Dawood Ibrahim and his aide Chhota Shakeel to India to face trial in the IPL spot-fixing case as they have been named in the charge sheet, Bassi only said whatever is necessary will be done to punish the guilty.

"I will take detailed information about the case and whatever is necessary will be done in the case," Bassi told PTI.

On policing, Basi warned of punitive action against personnel if they are found involved in any indiscreet acts. "Any policeman who would be found involved in indiscreet acts, strict action would be taken against him."

Asked how will curb the menace of stunt biking in Delhi, Bassi said bikers are not hardcore criminals and that the police will make efforts to "reform" them

"I believe that they are not hardcore criminals, they can be reformed. So I would like to identify them, contact them and through persuasion. I would want to dissuade them to not to indulge themselves in such activities. We would involve their parents, their teachers and their peer group. If somebody is in a job, we will involve their employers," said Bassi.

At the same time he said those bikers who violate law will be punished.

"What they (youngsters) do is they transgress the domain of Indian Panel Code. We would like to tell everyone that whoever will indulge in this type of activities, we will not only challan them but we would also catch them for any violation of the Indian Penal Code," he said.

Bassi, who was Special Commissioner (Administration) before he assumed the new responsibility, had served Delhi Police in various capacities, including as special commissioner (traffic), special commissioner (vigilance), joint commissioner (southern range) and additional commissioner (northern range).

He was also Director General of Goa Police.

When asked about the December 16 gangrape incident, Bassi said the case is being persuaded well and that police was "very confident" that there will be conviction and strict punishment will be given to the guilty.

The senior IPS officer of AGMU (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa -Mizoram-UnionTerritories) cadre, is due to retire from service in February 2016.

Asked whether Delhi police was prepared enough to blunt any terror strike similar of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, he said the force has adequate resources to deal with any contingencies.

"In Delhi, we have got adequate resources to deal with such contingencies. We have got very good commando unit and we have got adequate PCR coverage. We are confident that we won't let that happen," he said.

On improving policing, Bassi said that he intends to revive the 'Neighbourhood Watch Scheme' which was very effective in the 1980s.

"During 80s, a very effective scheme to interact with citizen was introduced which was known as Neighbourhood Watch Scheme (NWS). It was said to be an ideal interface of the Delhi police community. This scheme would be revived," he said.

"This allows us to reach every locality of the city. Though the heavy population and large expansion of city might be a problem but this scheme gives a confidence in citizen towards police. I hope in my term we would be successfully able to reach all parts of the city," he said.

Laying emphasis on ensuring proper response to anybody who reaches a cop, Bassi said, "I believe that any person who comes to police station must never regret it. Genuine efforts must be put in every single case by the police. No one should have complaints that he didn't get an FIR copy or didn't know what was going on during the investigations."

"These changes can be brought in merely by attitudinal changes. Our aim must be to make the life of the person entering the police station better. At least in the open in shut cases, no delay must be done," he said.

Asked to give a message to the force, he said "We must work with one aim that can we make this person's life better? Why can't we send reports by post, why can't we go and visit the victims personally and give them the necessary documents? The message is only to make lives better."

Bassi said he will make efforts to ensure that people are not scared of police but they fear the law.

"It is said that criminals do not fear law, I would like to send this message out that with our work we would create fear of law in criminals. I believe that no one should fear police, neither the complainant nor the criminal. The fear should be of law," he said.

He also said that the Delhi Police will cooperate with other states to curb crime in the national capital.

Asked about how he plans to address the problem of traffic jams, he said it was a matter of concern and resolved to enforce traffic regulation to improve the situation.