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Vijaykumar - Chat Transcript
 Welcome to Chennaionline.com
chat.
Vijaykumar: Hello everybody. I
am very happy to be here.
Guest: Welcome, Sir.
Guest: Sir, at the outset,
congratulations on your wonderful achievement.
Vijaykumar: Guest, thanks. This
is for me and my team in the STF in TN and Karnataka.
Guest52: How did you succeed or
what is the secret of your success?
Vijaykumar: Guest 52, being in
the centre of a good team is the secret of my success.
ravic: Welcome, Sir, it is a
privilege to be able 2 chat with you.
ravic: Sir, we are delighted.
Vijaykumar: ravic, thanks.
PR: Welcome, Sir.
Vijaykumar: PR, thank you.
Magesh: Thanks for shooting
down Veerapan and no doubt you uphold the pride of Tamil Nadu Police....
Vijaykumar: Magesh, I am an
officer of law and that was the option available then for the team.
 Veeran: Good evening.
Vijaykumar: Veeran, hello.
Veeran: Congratulations on such
a great success
Vijaykumar: Veeran, I am taking
the bouquet on behalf of a huge team. Thanks.
Veeran: Do u think encounter is
only solution to eliminate criminals?
Vijaykumar: Veeran, not at all.
I have never said so anywhere. But an officer of law is equipped with a gun
because the state trusts that he will use it, and responsibly, when there are no
other options. That he cannot be frivolous, trigger-happy and coming out on the
innocents.
Guest81: How did you identify
him?
Vijaykumar: Guest81, he has
been haunting us for 20 years so he was in our minds always. Even with that,
minus the moustache, I must admit it was a bit of a problem, only for moments.
PR: It's good of you to
interact with us. Do u think this kind of interaction helps in ur
responsibilities?
Vijaykumar: PR, I defnitely get
to know what others feel. So having your ears to the ground is not a bad thing,
I guess.
PR: Thanx for your job in
nearby Dharmapuri - it was a real safeguard demonstration for us. I was just 50
km away when the incident (Veerappan) happened.
Vijaykumar: PR, It is good that
you kept out of the hot zone. Our mission to safeguard was carried out well. We
feel good for the state and the people.
PR: How do you think the public
can help in future activities like this?
 Vijaykumar: PR, intelligence is
based on information which the birds and animals certainly cannot much give, as
I saw in those jungles. It were the human beings, though few in number, who
ultimately placed their trust in us and gave us vital clues. Otherwise, we would
still be beating around the bush. So, you mean much to the police.
raju: Congratulations to
yourself and your team.
Vijaykumar: Raju, thanks
raju: Sir, when will indian
police improve its performance?
Vijaykumar: Raju, Indian police
is among the better departments all over. But there is always scope to do
better. But people expect policemen as a one-stop answer.
raju: Sir, I beg to differ from
your view; it is in the sense that the state police just begged for 1 dollar at
the Chennai airport. I am living in Singapore but an Indian citizen.
Vijaykumar: Raju, deviants are
there in every species.
raju: I wish, the indian police
administration comes out with radical change. All police constables should have
revolvers. Errant policemen should immediately be dismissed to face trials.
Unfortunately, policemen don't even give respect to the public when they speak.
Vijaykumar: Raju, there are a
lot of reforms under way. Hopefully things will improve further. But Japanese
police are very proud of not carrying a gun and just carrying a small stick. If
you have too many weapons with the police, it means the environment is very
militarised. This danger has to be borne in mind. A mixture of guns and smiles,
at least no snarls.
raju: As an IPS officer, can
you tell us the indian police performance at the all-india level? The very sorry
state of police officers in Bihar, UP, Utranchal, Assam, etc. Will u suggest to
the authorities to change the police force with latest techniques that are
currently available?
 Vijaykumar: Raju, I don't have
a bird's eye view of the entire country. I was only overseeing the
Sathyamangalam jungles! But I know even in Bihar there are some wonderful police
officers, one or two are my batchmates.
raju: In my opinion the cost of
living for policemen is the same as others. Policemen also prefer to have their
children study in high standard private schools. But, perhaps due to lack of
funds, do they take bribes? Also to match the living standards of their
neighbours? How to prevent bribary in police? Even if public come with bribe, to
be immediately put in jail...
Vijaykumar: Raju, it is not the
economics, it is a state of mind, I guess. My model police constable - I met him
as Superintendent of Police more than 20 years ago. In a particular police
station he was the only person not touching an extra pie. Not even a tea offered
by someone. I hope he remains that way even today.
raju: I strongly support that
the policemen should work for only 8 hours a day. (24 hours should be
exceptional, during president or PM vist, etc). As the police officers are
overstrained, perhaps they behave in an inhuman way. Will at least the state
police administration create better working atmosphere for the police?
Vijaykumar: Raju, you are a
good spokesperson. Are you a cop in disguise? Our CM is very considerate and
looking after the welfare of cops, especially of the lower ranks, with
understanding.
raju: I wish to suggest to the
police team that there should always be a routine exercise of video clips of
intelligence (case study) to be carried out in every police station or police
division. Apart from these, other technical enhancements to be done to catch up
with technology.
Vijaykumar: Raju, various
divisions in the police do carry out the mock runs, rehearsals. Special forces
do more of it and general police stations less of it.
Magesh: Could you please give
us a solution for the recent robberies happening in Chennai...
Vijaykumar: Magesh, talk to my
friend commissioner, Mr Natraj. He is a good guy and a good cop.
ish: Hello, Sir, hats off to u
sir.
 Vijaykumar: Ish, thanks
ish: I am an engg student.
Myself & my sis are fans of u
Vijaykumar: Ish, very kind of
you. Give my good wishes to your sister.
ish: u have done a great job in
eradicating eve-teasing
Vijaykumar: Ish, watch out for
more oglers. That is an eternal species.
ish: U r our role model. Who is
urs, by the way?
Vijaykumar: Ish, a whole lot of
them. In police, Arul and Walter Dawaram here. Wilson, a policeman in USA, and
many other leading lights of various fields. I try to mimic the best from many
guys. I owe a lot to quite a few of them.
dhara: Hello sir,
congratulations to you and your team for such a great achievement.
Vijaykumar: Dhara, I will
certainly tell my team the congrats.
Guest: the scourge called
veerappan is not there anymore... still our people are cynical about the
capture...
Vijaykumar: Guest, you seem to
miss Veerappan badly. We also do miss him. But not that badly.
Guest: Another view - the STF
team has been rewarded more than what was called for - ur reaction?
Vijaykumar: Guest, when the
state or the Chief Minister is munificent and recognising an unprecedented good
work, why should I come in-between and be skimpy?
Guest: Unforunately, despite
such a tremendous achievement, the TN police's image has not improved since
people say it is the STF and not TN police that captured Veerappan and TN police
continues to have lacklustre people.
 Vijaykumar: Guest, there is
always space for contrarian views. I don't mind somebody differing but don't
suspect the bona fides and calibre of STF. If other special forces can do it,
defnitely the Indian special forces can. When the state is willing and backing
you, can even do one better. We had the entire STF as a voluntary force drawn
only from TN police. So, we are part of TN police and the credit goes to the
entire TN police because a whole lot of officers and men directly worked and
many others backed us from all over. In such work, it is not just the hitting
teams that is the spearhead but the entire spear which gets the job done. The
spear is TN police. If there is a bit of dust or rust there in the other end, it
is unfair to generalise the entire force. We are definitely far ahead of many
police forces.
somafromdubai9: Sir, don't u
think the govt has taken pretty long for this operation?
Vijaykumar: somafromdubai9, it
was a difficult and delicate operation. You cannot fix a deadline of few hours
or days. With the best men and best gadgets, and a lot of dollars, US is trying
to hound out Osama. Can anyone guess when it is going to be? Veerappan was a
beast with animal instincts and human brain. So that is it. We had good guys,
especially Dawaram, constantly patrolling. All very, very good men looking
around. They had a lot of successes but Veerappan somehow eluded. Finally, we
could put things together.
SA: What does a person need to
get into the Indian police force?
Vijaykumar: SA, a lot of hard
work and not much of physique as the common belief is. More of brain power, and
muscle power will follow.
SA: How do u rate the Indian
police in international standards?
Vijaykumar: SA, for a country
like ours with all sorts of problems, tremendous growth on one side, abysmal
situation on the other, police have, I think, evolved from their colonial mould
and doing reasonably ok. But for the police and administration and some
political farsightedness, a country like ours could be in bits and pieces.
dhara: Will you be continuing
in TN, becaz it is told that you are going for Central govt. services?
Vijaykumar: dhara, at the
moment I am very much in TN. But my options to go to the Centre will always be
there at the appropriate time.
 SA: With what gun did u shoot
the vehicle carrying Veerappan?
Vijaykumar: SA, AK-47, but
others had rifles, shotguns, pistols.
SA: If u were asked to describe
Veerappan in a sentence, what would u say?
Vijaykumar: SA, I said a beast
with animal instincts and human brain in a most formidable combination.
SA: What words of encouragement
do u have for budding youngsters?
Vijaykumar: SA, never give up.
Be hopeful. Don't just be a fan of someone. Try to be ahead of your role models.
Guest70: All this thing about
Scotland Yard and all that - there is a school of thought which says there is
more hype (media) than substance - ur views?
Vijaykumar: Guest70, I like to
be in that school too. But the British secret service MI5 and MI6, have done
tremendous work. During World War 1 and 2, some of the stories are
inspirational. Scotland Yard has inherited a good legacy and they have many good
men. So does the secret service of Israel, Mossad, and Sarayatmatkal. But in
India, we do have very good special forces and very fine intelligence wings in
the Centre and also in many states. But often their good work has to be kept
under wraps - tight lips is the word. So they don't get bouquets but they are
only used to brickbats. That is what it is in intelligence or special services.
Guest: Do u agree with the view
that a policeman's job is the most thankless?
Vijaykumar: But certainly
policemen work in very difficult conditions and our state is ahead of many
others in most perks. But they do deserve a good deal.
Guest: I feel a massive image
building exercise for the cops is required and officers like you shd act as role
models
Vijaykumar: Guest, are you in
marketing? Would you volunteer?
 Guest70: a career as a cop is a
good idea, do u think? wud u recommend?
Vijaykumar: Guest70, it is a
wonderful stream to be in if you like no fixed meals, fond of 40 winks, and your
wife is tolerant and almost gives you up and children like you but miss you and
don't see you much, but it is still the best. It has got the best of
camaraderie, best of team work. We always work very close to where trouble is. I
strongly recommend this job. I enjoyed this all along, but for moments of
anxiety, things not going the way you wanted it, which are part of any job,
anyway. So join the fold.
Guest70: That was as good a PR
as any for a police officer's job -)
Vijaykumar: guest70, thanks.
Now I know what to do 8 yrs from now.
Guest70: another mjr issue is
corruption in the Dept. - do u have any thoughts on how 2 ?
Vijaykumar: Guest70, lots of
ways. Ruthless action on the dirtiest, high rewards for the cleanest, both
should be prompt and proportionate. This was tried out by a famous commissioner
in Los Angeles, in USA. But soon after he quit, the momentum was lost and things
were back to old form.
Guest: The police are given too
much power and they tend to misuse it is one complaint - IMHO often cops take
out their frustration on whoever they can...and the poor guy on the street bears
the brunt - this should change - wht do u say, sir?
Vijaykumar: Guest, your humble
opinion is valued. I do admit the tension of the job shows often on the wrong
targets. It should not be. The policemen wield the power of the state.
Certainly, someone has to wield it. But then, they have to show two faces, as I
said before, one stern, one smiling. It is easy at my level to do this, but let
me tell you, down the level for a cop on the street it is extremely difficult to
keep switching these hats. Possibly as he was changing it, you ran into him.
Guest70: would raising salaries
and benfits for cops improve things?
Vijaykumar: guest70, yeah, I
guess so. If it doesn't more vigilance may be the remedy, a close eye. Not
closed-eye
SA: What is ur opinion of women
in the Indian police force?... Are they physically and mentally capable of
operations like your 'Cocoon'?
 Vijaykumar: SA, they are doing
pretty good. Ultimately, one-third of the force could be with them. So it is
better we guys learn to accommodate. In fact, teething trouble was much more in
the US in the 1960s. Men were derisive of the women cops. Why, in my batch, 1975
IPS, there was only one lady officer and 74 of us gentlemen/goons. But we
finished the course with all of us respecting the lady for her grit and the way
she endured the entire training.
SA: What were the orders u
received from the TN govt before 'Operation Cocoon'?
Vijaykumar: SA, the CM was
confident of my leadership and there was no specific mandate. When I met her on
three occasions during my stint, there was always a positive note, of confidence
that STF would do it this time.
Guest: ideally if the police
are autonomous - like the election commision (r they truly auto?) the entire
force will rise and shine, don't u agree?
 Vijaykumar: Too much autonomy
may not be a good thing.
Guest: Hi Sir, I am in
Malaysia. Have seen lot of info' about your service to the country. Would like
to send my greetings to you. Ramasamy
Vijaykumar: Thank you, Ramasamy.
SA: What's ur view on the
police portrayed in Tamil movies?... u like sum1 sayin 'naan police illa, naan
porikki'???
Vijaykumar: Police can be
portrayed better in movies.
Thank you all for you
questions. I enjoyed this session. Bye. Take care.
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