Vikram Singh, The Legendary UP Top Cop Whose Name Writ Fear In Criminals
Rarely is the Police and its personnel in India seen with dignity and respect. The men-in-khakhi, who should inspire confident instils fear and apprehensions. But then, like every place else, there are some who mean all the difference. This column Khakhi Legends' is to honour all such brave and different policemen, officials, who were set apart from the rest.
And no one better to start the weekly column that Vikram Singh, who retired as the director general of police (DGP) of UP, which is also the world's largest police force.
Now 70, he is the chancellor of a private university in Noida and often is seen on television debates, sharing his wisdom and expertise on crime, terrorism and various other scourges of modern-day criminal eco system.
He was the DGP of Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state between June 2007–September 2009. Born on May 22, 1950 to Markandeya Singh and Lakshmi Devi, Singh is a PhD in Ecology and is currently an educationist.
The legendary officer has been awarded the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry, Bar to President’s Police Medal for Gallantry, Indian Police Medal for Gallantry, President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Services, Indian Police Medal for Long and Meritorious Services, Kathin Seva Medal, Bar to Kathin Seva Medal and has served various positions including being the Additional Director General – Central Industrial Security Force, Additional Director General – Inter State Border Force, Additional Director General – Law & Order, Crime, Special Task Force, Inspector General - Varanasi Zone & Meerut Zone.
Other than his eventful stints as SSP of Kanpur and Meerut, where he became a dread for mafias and criminals due to his zero tolerance policy towards crime, he is remembered for being the IG of the Special Task Force (STF) at the time of its inception.
The STF later became instrumental in hounding out hardened criminals and killers and became one of the most successful teams in state's police history.
Talking to The News Agency about his long and illustrious career in the Indian Police Service, Singh said he was not only proud to be a part of the police but also emotional. "If there is a rebirth and I get to be born as a human, their cannot be a better place to serve than UP's police," he said with a tinge of pride. There is no other place where you get to do Karmyog and get paid too, he underlined while adding how policemen give their best to keep the populace safe and secure.