Vijayawada, Jan 31 (IANS): Harish Kumar Gupta on Friday assumed office as Andhra Pradesh’s new Director General of Police and declared that controlling cybercrimes and action against organised crime and mafia would be his priorities.

He also said that the police would use technology on a large scale and focus on improving response time to Dial 100 calls.

He was speaking at a police parade organized here to bid farewell to Dwarka Tirumala Rao on his retirement.

“We will be strict with those indulging in organized crime. Everybody who is indulging in organized crime will pay a very heavy price,” he said.

The new police chief said rowdy sheeters, history sheeters and people with criminal backgrounds would be under continuous surveillance. He also warned that police would deal firmly with those resorting to social media abuse and make sure that they are put behind bars.

The IPS officer said he would serve the citizens of Andhra Pradesh to the best of his capacity and act with fairness to ensure equity and justice for all.

“We will offer the best police services, maintain law and order and uphold the rule of law,” he said while thanking Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for reposing faith in him to entrust him with the key responsibility.

Stating that Andhra Pradesh is on the path of rapid progress, he said the Chief Minister has given Vision 2047. “Law and order play an important role in this process. We will be part of this journey to make Andhra Pradesh swarnandhra and peaceful,” he said.

Gupta was all praise for Tirumala Rao for his distinguished career and the outstanding services he rendered in various capacities. He noted that Tirumala Rao as the DGP took several steps for people-friendly policing, people’s safety, modernisation of police force and deployment of technology.

“Under your leadership, you have re-defined the landscape of Andhra Police and set golden standards. We will move ahead from here with the same commitment,” he said.

Tirumala Rao turned emotional during his speech. He said he couldn’t come to terms with the fact that he would no longer be in the uniform. “Ever since I entered the service, I have seen many challenges. We transformed from traditional policing to technological policing. We took action to check cybercrime, drugs and crime against children,” he said.

A 1989-batch IPS officer, Rao was appointed as the Head of the Police Force (HoPF) on June 20, 2024, after the TDP-led NDA government assumed office.

1992-batch IPS officer Harish Kumar Gupta succeeded Tirumala Rao. This is the second time Gupta has been appointed DGP.

Previously, the Election Commission of India (ECI) appointed him to the post on May 6, 2024, replacing K.V. Rajendranath Reddy after complaints of alleged irregularities and bias in election duties.

Gupta, who was Director General of Vigilance and Enforcement before his new appointment, has only seven months of service remaining before his retirement in August.