23 days after appointment, OP Singh finally takes charge as UP DGP

IPS officer OP Singh today took the charge as the Director General Police (DGP) Uttar Pradesh, 23 days after his appointment on December 31, 2017.

Singh, a 1983-batch IPS officer, was relieved as the Director General (DG) of CISF on January 20 after approval from the PMO. Singh is returning to his home cadre after four years deputation at the Centre.

He is the third IPS officer under the Yogi Adityanath government in the last ten months to serve as the chief of the one of the largest police force in the world. Earlier, Javeed Ahmed and Sulkhan Singh were the DGP under the present regime.

The post of the UP DGP has been lying vacant for over a fortnight after incumbent Sulkhan Singh retired on December 31.

Straight from the airport, Singh drove to Hanuman Temple to pay obeisance before taking the charge. Singh will serve the post for two years i.e. till 2020.

Speaking at a press conference here after taking charge, the top cop said it was an honour for him to head the police force of the country's largest state.

“Crime will continue to happen and our job is to deal effectively with it. The encounter drive will continue and my priority will be to strengthen law and order situation further in the state," he said.

"I will try to ensure that the response time of police is reduced (in reaching spots of crime). There should be fair and quality probe. I will discuss it with my officers. I have a good team and am ready to face the challenges ahead," he added.

"Everyone in the state will be given security and professionalism will be ensured in the force," he asserted.

On his first challenge to ensure the peaceful release of controversial film 'Padmaavat' across the state, Singh said that “they will follow the Supreme Court order and will not allow anyone to take the law into their hands.”

Singh, a gallantry medal winner, was heading the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) since September, 2016. 

CISF provides security cover to nuclear installations, space establishments, airports, seaports, power plants, metro stations, sensitive government buildings and heritage monuments.

During his tenure, the CISF took several initiatives in the airport security domain.

Before heading the CISF, Singh had served as the chief of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

His career has not been without controversy. 

Singh was posted Lucknow SSP a record three time. It was under him the infamous State Guest House case had happened on June 2, 1995 in which an attempt was made by the Samajwadi Party goons on the life of the BSP Supremo Mayawati. He was placed under suspension for the dubious role of the Lucknow Police in the case.

(With PTI inputs)