Neelamani N Raju takes charge as Karnataka's first DG and IGP, plans to make police stations more women-friendly

Bengaluru: Senior IPS officer Neelamani Raju has taken charge as the first woman Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG and IGP) of Karnataka.

Soon after assuming charge on Tuesday evening, Raju said he ascendance to the top post had boosted the morale of other women IPS officers in the state.

The DGP said she wants to make police stations more women-friendly and providing security is her top priority.

Thanking the government for reposing faith in her, Raj said there were challenges ahead in Karnataka where Assembly elections are due early next year.

She also said ‘Tipu Jayanthi’, being opposed by the BJP is a “big challenge” but she was confident of handling the situation.

The state government is celebrating the birth anniversary of the 18th Century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan on 10 November. The move has been opposed tooth and nail by the BJP which see Tipu Sultan as a “religious bigot” and a “brutal killer”.

An IPS officer of 1983 batch, 57-year-old Raju replace Rupak Kumar Dutta who retired.

Though there were other claimants for the post, the government gave preference to the seniority.

Her husband DN Narasimha Raju had retired as principal secretary to the chief minister last year.