Prakash Nikam takes charge as Belagavi Police Commissioner after transfer row

Prakash Nikam assumed office as Belagavi's Police Commissioner, ending a transfer controversy that had prompted the district's ministerial in-charge to intervene with the Chief Minister.

Nikam replaces Borase Bhushan Gulabrao, who has been moved to the Hubballi-Dharwad commissionerate. A team of officers including Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan and Deputy Commissioners Narayan Baramani and Niranjan Raje Urs welcomed the incoming chief while bidding farewell to Gulabrao.

Transfer delayed after ministerial objection

The handover, originally scheduled for August 30, was postponed after Satish Jarkiholi, the district in-charge Minister, told a press conference he had no prior knowledge of the reshuffle. Jarkiholi said he would raise the matter with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Two days later, the Minister backed the move, describing it as the State government's decision.

Kannada organisations had demonstrated against Gulabrao's transfer, arguing he had managed the sensitive question of differences between Kannada and Marathi speakers.

Maharashtra-origin officer returns to first posting

Nikam, a 2012-batch IPS officer from Maharashtra, told reporters he had served as a probationary officer in Belagavi in 2013. Before this appointment, he held the Superintendent of Police post in Bidar and Vijayapura and was later deputed to the Union government's Bureau of Civil Aviation Safety.

He said he would continue the good work started by Gulabrao and focus on traffic management and cybercrime. Nikam added that his predecessor had briefed him on arrangements for the Ganesh festival.

Outgoing chief highlights drug, cyber successes

Gulabrao thanked his subordinates and city residents, crediting teamwork for successful efforts against the drug menace, scams and cyber criminals. He said he would remember his 15 months in Belagavi with pleasure, including attempts to find a long-term solution to accident spots on the national highway by involving professors from KLS GIT engineering college. He urged officers to extend the same cooperation to Nikam.

Source: The Hindu