Editorial Board Contents - Bureau of Police Research and ...

Shri Dave was posted back to the lB. He laterresigned from service in 1972 and joined theITC, which he headed with great distinction for anumber of years.The IB, shorn of its international burden, became avery compact unit with only about 5 JDs, a dozenDeputy and Jt. Dy. Directors and about 2 dozenADs. The Outstation posts were usually mannedby ClOs. The general atmosphere for the ADs inthe IB was never riddled with tensions and stresses,despite the unending demands made on it. Sinceat the senior level, practically all the officersbelonged to the IPS, there was never any cause forjealousy or bickering. Even senior officers neverpulled rank in dealing with subordinates andthere was general informality, quite unknown touniformed service, which prevailed most of thetime. Frayed tempers, shouting at subordinatesetc. were unheard of. This surprisingly nevercaused any insubordination or situations ofindiscipline. Work was never discussed publicly,while the lunch clubs in each building gaveopportunities for officers to congregate duringlunch and indulge in banter. This helped builda camaraderie, seldom witnessed in any Policeorganisation. The average lB officer was alsoa shade different from his counterpart in thedistricts, and could be credited with having anintellectual bent of mind.With Headquaters work becoming a little stifling,and the lure of the borders captivating me, Iopted to go to Leh, which was considered asone of the most difficult stations. Leh, where Iremained posted for 2½ years, turned out to bethe best and most challenging assignment of mylife. Apart from looking after the lB work andcheck posts, I was also the Area Organiser ofthe SSB, AD/ARC and Incharge of the CRP. TheITBP also came within my operational control.Working closely with the Army and the AirForce, travelling to the furthermost remote areas,right from the Karakoram pass through the snowywilderness and seeing the grandeur of the highpeaks and lakes, one really came to like this life.Motoring through some of the highest passes inthe world, playing Polo and Cricket at sub zerotemperatures and wading through half frozenrivulets of Indus, became highlights, which oneremembers even to this day with nostalgia.For the check post personnel, particularlythose who were posted in the Northern sector,things were really tough and survival itselfwas a triumph. The posts were located abovel6,000 thousand feet and the temperatures werebelow -40 degrees centigrade. Even though Ihad completed my tenure by Sept 1971, I wasasked to continue in Leh, since a war withPakistan was imminent. Ladakh has areas opento both Pakistan and China and while there waslittle Chinese activity on the Tibet side duringthe December war, things became difficult inJanuary 1972. The Chinese used to come closeto Demchok post and fire mortars in the directionof our post. While there was enough justificationfor withdrawing from this area, our boys hungon, saving the embarrassment of withdrawal andwere duly rewarded later. On the Pakistan side,the infantry division based in Leh had tremendoussuccess across the LoC. When the ceasefire wasannounced, all the top brass of the Army and theAirforce in Leh were present for a gala victorydinner that night at the lB mess.One of the most remarkable experiences inLeh was the time I acquired two snow leopardcubs. I bought these pets from a local villager.They were of the size of two small kittens andproved to be good company to my one year olddaughter. Unfortunately, one of them died anda problem soon arose, since it was against thelaw to keep such rare wild animals in the house.Therefore, I dispatched the cub to one of theforward check posts, where it grew up to be amagnificent animal with a long bushy tail. Shewas very friendly, particularly with one of ourdhobis who used to look after her. To escape theclutches of the law, I then hit upon a plan. ThePrime Minister Mrs. Gandhi was visiting Leh andI chose the opportunity to discuss the presentingof the snow leopard to Mrs. Gandhi. I spoke toMr Dutt, JD Security, accompanying the PM, whochecked with her and told me to bring the cub toDelhi for presentation.So “Lucy”, one of the rarest snow or cloudedleopards in captivity was brought to Delhi in ajonga along with my dhobi. Lucy spent one nightin my brother’s apartment in Bengali marketand the next morning I took her to one of the lBoffices in Akbar Road to pick up my friend RattanSehgal, who had agreed to accompany me toThe Indian Police Journal, October - December, 2012, Special Issue 105