New Police Commissioner takes charge in Belagavi

Prakash Nikam took charge as the Police Commissioner here on Thursday. Nikam replaces Borase Bhushan Gulabrao, who has been transferred as Police Commissioner of Hubballi-Dharwad.

A team of officers, including Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan, Deputy Commissioners Narayan Baramani and Niranjan Raje Urs and others welcomed Mr. Nikam.

The officials gave a send-off to Mr. Gulabrao.

The event, which was scheduled on August 30, was postponed after Satish Jarkiholi, district in-charge Minister, expressed ignorance of the change of officers, during a press conference.

Mr. Jarkiholi said he would speak to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar about it. Two days later, Mr. Jarkiholi defended the transfer saying it was the State government’s decision. Kannada organisations had protested against the State government for transferring Mr. Borase, who they said, had handled the delicate issue of the differences between Kannada and Marathi speakers.

Mr. Nikam, an IPS officer of the 2012 batch, hails from Maharashtra. He recalled that he had served as a probationary officer in Belagavi in 2013. He has served as Superintendent of Police in Bidar and Vijayapura before being deputed to the Union government in the Bureau of Civil Aviation Safety.

Mr. Nikam told reporters that he would continue the good work started by Mr. Borase. He said he would focus on issues like traffic management and cybercrime.

The Police Commissioner said Mr. Borase had given him some feedback about the arrangements made for the Ganesh festival.

Mr. Borase thanked all his subordinates and the residents of the city. He recalled that efforts to combat the drug menace, action against scams, and cyber criminals had succeeded due to the team work of police officers and staff.

He said that he would recall the 15 months spent in Belagavi with pleasure as it included attempts to find a long-term solution to the accident spots on the national highway by involving professors from KLS GIT engineering college. He asked officers to extend the same cooperation to the new Commissioner.