State gets first woman police chief

Neelmani N Raju took charge as Karnataka’s first woman director general and inspector general of police (DG-IGP) on Tuesday.

“I am an officer first and then comes (the question of) whether I am a woman or a man,” the 57-year-old told reporters. “This is how I am trained, and I perform.”

A 1983 batch IPS officer, Neelmani said she had accepted with humility her new responsibilities.

“It is a challenging task ahead of the polls,” she said, thanking the government for the posting, and promising to do her best.

A little after 5 pm, her predecessor R K Dutta formally handed over charge to Neelmani at the office of the DG-IGP on Nrupathunga Road.

She said she would continue all police welfare schemes introduced by her predecessors.

In her first interaction with the force, she emphasised the need for team spirit.

Asked about crimes against women, Neelmani said she would make police stations women-friendly, and sensitise the force.

More educated cops
Karnataka will recruit more candidates with graduate and post-graduate education for the constabulary, Neelmani said.

 She pledged to improve the conviction rate and focus on cracking unsolved cases.