Rajeev Kumar takes over as new police commissioner

Rajeev Kumar on Wednesday took over as the commissioner of Kolkata Police. Former commissioner Surajit kar Purakayastha handed over the charge to Kumar at his Lalbazar office. 

An IPS of 1989 batch, Kumar was Additional Director General of the Criminal Investigation Department before taking over the charge.

On Wednesday, both Purakayastha and Kumar reached Lalbazar at around 10.45 am. They held a short meeting followed by a photo-session. 

At around 11.20 am, Purakayastha left the city police’s headquarters at Lalbazar. Kumar and other senior officers posted at Kolkata Police accompanied Purakayastha, the new DG (crime), up to his car. Later in a press conference Kumar said Kolkata Police was one of the oldest and prestigious police organisation. “I hope that I can keep the flag of Kolkata Police flying high,” he said. 

He said: “It is like a relay race. Battan is handed over to a new person and the new person continues with the job.” 

There is a saying that “police is public and public is police. Thus we need co-operation from all quarters so that we can serve them better”.  

It may be mentioned that in his service career, Kumar had spent many years in Kolkata Police and served it in various posts. Kumar, who is known for his excellent investigating skills, was chosen as an officer to head the Special Task Force when it was set up. 

Moreover, Kumar, the BE in computer science from the University of Roorkey, was known for his work in bringing down the Left Wing extremism in the state.