Amid criticism over JNU row, Alok Kumar Verma takes over as Delhi police chief

New Delhi: Senior IPS officer Alok Kumar Verma on Monday took charge as the new Commissioner of Delhi Police at a time it is battling mounting criticism over handling of the JNU row. Verma (58) succeeded B S Bassi, who was at loggerheads with the AAP government on a range of issues in the last one year, to become the 20th police commissioner of the force with a strength of over 80,000 personnel. Verma, a 1979 batch IPS officer of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory) cadre, was serving as the Director General of Tihar jail till date. He assumes charge of Delhi Police when it is battling mounting criticism over handling of the JNU row. In his first addressal speech to the entire police force over wireless, Verma said that ensuring security to senior citizens, women and weaker sections of the society will remain his priority areas and he expects the force to focus not only on grievous offences but also on petty crimes, which troubles the common man on a daily basis. [caption id=“attachment_2649502” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Image courtesy: Twitter/@CPDelhi[/caption] He also said that the doors of his office are always open for the common man to come and seek solutions for their problems. “I am proud to be given the opportunity of working with Delhi Police. Together, we will work towards betterment and strengthening of Delhi Police. “Factors like community, caste and religion should never obstruct our functioning and I expect from my force to focus not only on grievous offences but also on petty crimes which troubles the common man on a daily basis. “I expect that every Delhi Police personnel stays away from corruption, rudeness and barbarism…Ensuring security to senior citizens, women and weaker sections of the society will remain our priority areas,” the new police chief said. Calling constable “spine” of the police force, Verma said that the supervisory authority should ensure better communication with their subordinates to make sure that all problems they confront on the field are dealt with at the earliest. He also said that he would put untost efforts accommodation, barracks and mess facilities of police officials. “The doors of my office are always open for the common man to come and seek solutions for their problems,” he added. PTI