Vijayawada may get new Police Commissioner

Vijayawada: City Commissioner of Police Gautam Sawang is likely to be transferred as the government may offer him state-level position after he narrowly missed the post of DGP. Gautam Sawang is one of the top contenders for the post of the police boss till Saturday. 

Due to unknown reasons, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has chosen RP Thakur, the DG of ACB for the post of DGP. Consequently, Sawang lost the chance of getting the post of DGP.

Now, Sawang may be considered for the post of DG ACB, which is state-level post. Both the Commissioner of Police, Vijayawada, and ACB DG are both equal ranks. But the ACB DG is state-level position. Commissioner of Vijayawada is restricted to the city and suburban areas.

During the past three years as Commissioner of Police Gautam Sawang had made his presence felt in the city by introducing reforms particularly to take care of senior citizens, women and children and curbing the anti- social elements and call money lenders.

He conducted operation Muskan in which street and neglected children were identified by the police and sent to the Child Care Centres and hostels. Similarly, Vruddha Mitra and Mahila teams were constituted in all the police stations which are helpful to the women and senior citizens.

Mahila Mitra coordinators helped the women to furnish information to the girls and women, who need the help of police. The city police also helping the senior citizens after Vruddha Mitra teams were constituted in various police stations. Awareness programmes were also conducted in the city to educate the senior citizens about their rights.

Besides, the Commissioner of Police contained the call money finance business in the city and gave stern warning to shut down the activity. Many women came forward and openly narrated their woes before the Commissioner of Police how the call money lenders harassed them.  

Keeping in view of his services to the people of Vijayawada and the police department, the state government may offer state-level post to him. It is reliably learnt that some senior officers are lobbying to get the post of the Vijayawada Commissioner of Police. Two or three names are making rounds in the police department. But it will take some more time to get clarity.