Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Jan 6: New Inspector General of Police (Western Range) P Harishekaran took charge of his office on Friday, January 6.
He is the 12th IGP of the Western Range comprising Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Chikkamagaluru district police units.
Harishekaran is a 1996 batch IPS officer, replaced J Arun Chakravarthy, who has been posted as the Inspector General of Police (Internal Security), Bengaluru.
Speaking to media persons Harishekaran said "I am happy today to take charge of the range. Mangaluru range is a prestigious range as far as Karnataka police is concerned. I have got an opportunity to serve this range. Whatever I have learned as the additional commissioner of Bengaluru city will be of help in implementation here.”
Asked how he plans to handle the terror links in this range, "I need time to understand the demography and topography of this area. I have already worked in two naxal operations in the past. My main aim is to motivate my team. I want to share my experience with my officers and work as a team."
He also urged the support from the media to deliver the best in this area.
Brief profile
Harishekaran is a native of Tamil Nadu. He is a postgraduate in arts with history as major. Prior to getting into the IPS, he was the customs officer of 1994 batch and worked for two years in customs in Chennai. Later 1996, he passed IPS and was inducted into the Karnataka cadre. He has worked in different positions as Assistant superintendent of police (ASP), independent post Arasikere, Hassan district, superintendent of police (SP), Veerappan operation and SP Chamarajanagar, SP Raichur for two years, SP Tumkur for three years, deputy commissioner of police (DCP) west city, DIG internal security three years and was recently the Additional Commissioner of Police (East), Bengaluru city.
Harishekaran’s father was the first independent MLA (1956) in Tamil Nadu. First home minister of Tamil Nadu Kakkanji is the relative of Harishekaran. Currently his sister Sivakami is an IAS officer in Tamil Nadu.
Harishekaran is a very good runner with best timing of 2 hours 8 minutes in 21 kilometers, recorded three years back.