A cop’s diary: An eventful 36-year journey in khaki

On June 30, 2026, I exit the police services with the satisfaction of having served the state for nearly 36 years. It was a journey which began with the filling of Uttar Pradesh State Civil Examination form in 1989 and successfully qualifying as a PPS officer, now reaching its culmination this year, as an IPS officer, donning the rank of the inspector general of police.Mine is not just another retirement story. It is the journey of a young, idealistic deputy superintendent of police who joined the service when the country was still finding its feet in the post-liberalization era of the early 1990s, and who leaves it at a time when policing has transformed into a high-tech, high-pressure profession battling everything from cybercrime to narco-terrorism.I had the honor of serving Uttar Pradesh — a state known for its deeply complex law and order challenges.

In those early days, we operated with limited resources, frequent communal tensions, and an understaffed force.Posted as a young DSP in sensitive districts like Aligarh, Saharanpur, Dehradun, and Kanpur, I quickly sensed the challenges ahead.Society expected a quick response, efficient delivery, and a settled mechanism from us. As a leader, you were expected to lead from the front, while simultaneously presenting the humane face of policing.

I always endeavored to involve the community in our core daily work, because we don khaki for one precise reason: to ensure a safe, secure, and stable environment for society.My early career was shaped by unique institutional exposure. In my first decade of service, I had the honour of working as a deputy assistant to four DGPs. This role sharpened my communication skills and taught me how to coordinate effectively with field formations and allied police units.Later, I was given the opportunity to serve as a peacekeeper with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo. Working alongside police officers from 55 member nations allowed me to dive deep into different policing systems worldwide.I also had a brief tenure observing the New York Police Department (NYPD) as a representative of my state. There, I studied the 911 emergency system and analyzed the strategies used to reduce crime, particularly the implementation of the “breaking the windows theory” and zero-tolerance in policing.I consider myself fortunate enough to have served as the superintendent of police (city) of major towns of UP, besides holding the important charge as an independent SP of four sensitive districts. My stint in anti-corruption unit as SSP and then as a DIG were fulfilling and satisfying. My postings in the training and academic institution UPSIFS were also enriching and exposed me to a different dimension of policing.I routinely faced the classic trinity that tests every police officer – political and societal pressure, resource crunches, and immense personal sacrifice. That is expected as it is the police which must enforce the laws of the land and that requires sheer determination, tenacity and dexterity.There were nights spent sleeping in my vehicle. During elections, I bore the heavy responsibility of ensuring free, fair, and transparent polling.

I supervised investigations of heinous offences managed communal, caste, and student strife, and always tried to prove equal to the task to the best of my abilities and capacity.I had many firsts to my credit as I became the first PPS officer to clear the UNSAT (United Nations Selection Aptitude Test) Examinations in Nov 2001.In 2019, as the SSP (anti-corruption organisation) I got 100 traps executed, first since its inception in 1977, truly manifesting in the UP govt’s policy of zero tolerance towards corruption.

This was despite limited manpower and resources. Now, ACO has become resource rich and is doing exceptional work in UP.Also, as SP (city), I witnessed the bomb blast on the court premises of Varanasi on Nov 23, 2007, and ensured that law and order is maintained. Twenty-three people lost their lives in that blast.Though the last decade of my service was not uneventful, I feel my services could have been utilized in a better way.However, I don’t blame the system and exit the service with no extra baggage. I have always spoken from the heart and with all the accumulated experience, I would strive to channelize the energy of the youth into positive directions. That is going to my goal post retirement. I have always relished challenges as they harness potential and bring the best out of you.For young police officers stepping into the force today, my foremost advice is that integrity is your only permanent weapon – everything else, be it power, position, or resources, can be taken away from you but not your character.Know your men: The constable on the ground is your most important asset. Treat him with dignity, and he will walk through fire for you.Technology is a tool, not a replacement. Never let gadgets replace human intelligence and empathy. Use data to guide you but never forget the human stories behind every case file.Prioritize physical and mental fitness. Health is non-negotiable. You cannot protect society if you cannot protect your own well-being.Reject ‘chalta hai’ (lax) attitude. The small compromises you make today become the massive scandals of tomorrow.Serve the Constitution, not the individual. Your loyalty belongs strictly to the law of the land and the people of India.As I told my uniform for the last time, I wish to be remembered as a leader who successfully balanced toughness with compassion, as I always considered it as a service and never a job which provided me, my bread and butter and at same time innate satisfaction.From the dusty lanes of my first DSP posting to post of an IG, my journey has seen immense ups and equally challenging downs. As a police officer one should always adhere to this maxim that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.I am a witness to the unprecedented transition of policing from ‘danda’ to ‘data’.I bid adieu to the police force with a heavy heart, but with profound gratitude to the stars that allowed me to wear the khaki—a true symbol of ‘shanti’ (peace) and ‘shakti’ (power). If I am destined to be reborn, my eternal wish will always be the same: to become a cop once again.(Writer is a 2008 batch IPS officer of the provincial services. He is retiring on June 30 after 36 years of service)