Cops on song, criminals face the music

Tirhut range DIG Arvind Pandey does not find fighting crime and music contradictory. "A recent report in America suggests that music makes police officers more sharp and increases their productivity," he said. The IPS officer has cut devotional albums, and made video cassettes on yoga and even acted in Bhojpuri film Bandhan Toote Na.

As DIG Tirhut, Pandey launched a cultural organization named Biharbhakti. "Music is an integral part of this organization. We hold meetings and bhajans and counsel people against crime and false litigation," he said. In the four districts he oversees, the number of false cases registered by people have declined.

He is not the only IPS officer who sings. IG Gupteshwar Pandey has also cut an album on patriotism.

ADG RR Verma has been into social work since 1999, helping physically-challenged persons from economically weaker sections of society through his organization Red Swastik. The annual camp held by his organization provides free Jaipur foot to 500 people and tricycles to another 150. Every alternative month, he organises a mega health camp. "After I became IG, I found that I had more time to spare and used it to help people," he remarked.

Another IPS officer from Bihar, Kishore Kunal, took voluntary retirement and plunged into social work. He set up the Mahavir Religious Trust and started a cancer and an eye hospital.

ADG Abhyanand has acquired national fame by teaching physics to poor students and helped them qualify for IIT. He, alongwith another math wizard, started Super 30 that has virtually become a household name for IIT aspirants.

AK Upadhyay, IG of Special Vigilance Police, is responsible for detecting corruption at the top and has raided houses of IPS and IAS officials. Though actions apart, the 1984 IPS officer also writers ghazals and rubiyas in Urdu. Using the pen name Abhay Kumar Bewak, he has several published works to his credit and has even been awarded by Bihar Urdu Academy. "A poet has to be sensitive. So does a policeman in order to do his job responsibly and effectively," he remarked.