Vibrant parade welcomes new Chandigarh DGP Dr Sagar Preet Hooda

Chandigarh Police extended a ceremonial welcome to its newly appointed Director General of Police (DGP), Dr Sagar Preet Hooda, with a vibrant parade held at the Police Lines, Sector 26, here this morning. The event, marked with precision, honour and camaraderie, was attended by top police officials and over 350 personnel from various units of the force.

The welcome parade was led by Dheeraj Kumar, DSP Crime, along with Rohitash Kumar Yadav from the Traffic Wing. A total of 14 contingents took part in the march-past, including three all-women groups led by ASI Pratibha, ASI Aanchal and ASI Kirti, showcasing the inclusive strength of the UT police.

Adding to the ceremony’s splendour were two bands — a pipe band and a brass one — that performed as the parade presented a general salute to Dr Hooda. The event also featured the dog squad with six trained canines and their handlers, a mounted unit with 10 horses and accompanying staff and six cycling traffic police personnel, symbolising the department’s focus on mobility and innovation.

Senior officers present at the parade included IGP Pushpender Kumar, SSP Kanwardeep Kaur, SSP (Traffic & Security) Sumer Partap Singh, SP (Headquarters) Manjit Sheoran, SP (Cyber Crime) Geetanjali Khandelwal, SP (City) KM Priyanka, and others.

In his address, Dr Hooda, an AGMUT cadre 1997-batch IPS officer, thanked the force for the meticulously organised and disciplined reception. He emphasised the need for professional conduct, citizen-centric policing and a justice-oriented approach in line with the evolving legal framework. “We must work with empathy, transparency and accountability. Our focus must remain on delivering justice with compassion, especially under the new laws,” he remarked.

Dr Hooda holds a PhD in Sociology from Panjab University and is an Edward S. Mason Fellow from Harvard University. His distinguished service includes key postings in Delhi Police, including Special Commissioner (Law & Order). He was also awarded the President’s Police Medal for his exemplary service.

The parade concluded with a high tea, accompanied by melodious tunes from the Chandigarh Police band, fostering a spirit of unity and renewed purpose in the force.