Mysuru: Police Commissioner’s Incognito Rounds on Bike to Monitor Performance of His Force

Mysuru: If the cops in the cultural capital have begun to pull their socks up and begun to work more efficiently all of a sudden over the past two weeks, it has nothing to do with a change of heart or something similar.

It is only because they would never know when they would be caught napping or be found wanting in performing their duties. B Dayananda, who took over as the city police commissioner, has been making rounds in plainclothes and incognito, to keep track of the cops’ style of working at various points in the city.

The moment he notices some lapse, he would immediately call the respective official in charge. The result would be evident within a few minutes.

Donning a T-shirt, shorts and a helmet, he went around Vinoba Road and Irwin Road and found the traffic signals at the two junctions faulty and took the traffic police personnel to task over his walkie-talkie.

The cops are not in a position to guess where and when he will turn up. Being a new face and wearing a helmet, he cannot be identified easily and hence they are caught by surprise.

The commissioner uses the official car to commute to and from the office. But when going on rounds, he uses only the bike.

Bannikal Dayananda IPS, who until recently was the ACP (traffic) in Bengaluru, used to go on bike rides daily and has continued the same here too, said police sources.

He said that bike-riding was his favourite hobby. Although his rides were limited in Bengaluru, he said, he would go around regularly to see the heritage buildings and traffic situation and also to familiarize himself with the city.

It may be recalled here that about a decade ago, he had served as the superintendent of police of Dakshina Kannada in Mangaluru before the commissionerate was carved out. He had also served as ASP in Puttur earlier during 1998-99, which tenure helped him in getting a better idea of DK district.