HIS mantra is 'policing with a human face' and it has made a world of a difference in Himachal Pradesh. For the last three years as the Director General of Police, A. K. Puri, an 1967 batch IPS officer, has been carrying out his mission with relentless zeal. Says Puri, "I want to bring the community and the police on one platform. I want to make the police a partner in community life."

Born in Ludhiana, Puri completed his schooling from San Jain School and did his post graduation in Economics from the Government College there. In 1966, he topped the Civil Services examination and opted for the IPS. In 1971, he was posted as SP, Lahaul-Spiti, considered to be one of the hardest tribal districts of H.P. In 1983, he was short listed by the Centre to do a special course and was sent to the prestigious British Police Staff College. Later, he went on a deputation as IG, Special Security Bureau and had a long stint there. He received the Police Medal for meritorious services on Independence Day in 1999. He was also decorated with the President's Police Medal for distinguished services in 1997. He took over as DGP, H.P, in 2000.

Some of the on-going innovative schemes launched by him are the Community Policing Scheme, the Vishwas Yojna, the Suvidha Yojna, the Samarth Yojna, the Sanrakshan Yojna, women cells and the HP Police website.

The earnest efforts made by the DGP have yielded results. The total number of murders has gone down to 123 from 133 in1999. Similarly, burglary cases reduced from 876 to 620 and theft cases from 659 to 563. On the NDPS front, the total haul of charas increased from 76.856 kg to 724.957 kg. The crime against women decreased from 1032 to 920 cases.

Today, the police headquarters is totally computerised and shortly all the 84 police stations will be online. This has resulted in reducing the paper work by 50 per cent and by 2004 it will be reduced by another 30 per cent

According to Saroj Vasisht, a well-known social worker who has done considerable amount of work in Tihar and HP jails along with Kiran Bedi, "Puri is today considered one of the most popular police officers in Himachal Pradesh because of his welfare schemes"

During the last three years, the police department has grown and today it has 14000 personnel on its rolls. Out of the annual current budget of Rs 160 crore, Rs.13.5 crore is earmarked for modernization and computerization.

Puri has launched a promotion policy that saw the lowest of the cadre benefit tremendously. A constable is now promoted as head constable after 15 years of service. The net result of this exercise was the promotion of 2340.

Similarly, promotion avenues of officers have also widened. The seniority to become DIG from SP was brought down to 14 years and to become an IG to 18 years.

According to I.B.Negi, former DGP, HP, "It is all due to the professional attitude and approach of Puri and clarity of his vision that has lifted the morale of the force resulting in better performance of policing duties."