Amrutha Guguloth- the third woman IPS officer since 1947 to supervise a high profile and sensitive New Delhi district of Delhi Police

New Delhi, March 26

Handling one of the most sensitive districts in Delhi Police in terms of security, law and order, IPS officer DCP Amrutha Guguloth has recently taken up the onus to supervise a New District. 

An IPS officer of 2011 batch, Amrutha Guguloth is a woman with conviction to take up this most challenging district of Delhi Police. 

In a special interview with BW Policeworld, DCP Amrutha Guguloth talks about her journey into policing and how Delhi came calling from Telangana. DCP Amrutha is the third woman IPS officer since 1947 to supervise New Delhi District of Delhi Police. 

1) You have been newly appointed as DCP New Delhi district, a district that demands supervision and administration more than 24/7. What are your thoughts on this?

The district of New Delhi in Delhi Police is the busiest and most challenging district in terms of security. This district has VVIP residences of the Prime Minister, NSA, Chiefs of central agencies, Central Secretariat, Embassies, five star hotels and government establishments and also key market areas like Connaught Place of Delhi. Ensuring security in these areas is the biggest task of police and the supervision is to such an extent that there is no scope or excuse for even a minor skirmish. The policemen, hence, in this district are on their toes more than 24/7 and 365 days without observing even bigger holidays or offs. The policemen posted in this district have been prepared and trained to ensure smooth functioning of high profile movements, events, visits while keeping full tabs in market areas where there is high footfall of citizens. I would call this district the most important district in the whole country as this is the place from where our national capital governs the country. 

2) The New Delhi district often witnesses protests on various issues at India Gate and Jantar Mantar. How do you ensure law and order in such areas?

The area of Jantar Mantar is a designated spot of protestors and unions. These areas are completely are our radar in terms of the movement of people in and around in these areas and ensuring that no untoward incident takes place in these areas when the protests are on. Unlike other districts in Delhi Police, New Delhi district has evoked Section 144 irrespective of protests, on an everyday basis, where gatherings of more than 10 people are not allowed. Similarly, at the popular area of Connaught Place, where certain groups or individuals hold talks are also under monitoring and no such event is allowed to be taken place without prior permission of the police. The organizers of any protest or event undergo scrutiny and seek permission before holding any such event. The intelligence gathering in these areas is strong and we constantly seek updates on every minute movement of people in these areas. 

3)  As soon as you took over, you started ‘Police Sakhi’ in New Delhi district. Tell us about your brainchild. 

The Police Sakhi has been specially thought over for safety of women in the district. This has been started with to place confidence in the minds of female of all age groups of the area and those who visit the district. The teams comprising of all women staff on nine pink colour scooties patrol the area of the district. This has been done to reach all areas of the district where other police vehicles are not able to reach. With this initiative, the district police will be able to reach every doorstep for solving problems of the women, children. 

This has been done with a view to increase accessibility of women and children to the police lady officers, know their problems and try to sort out any issuesThe catchy colour makes the project/initiative easy to identify in the crowd and makes the Police Sakhi easily accessible for help of any kind. The district aims to further increase the fleet size in near future.

4) You have been posted in Andaman & Nicobar Police before returning back to Delhi. You had initiated a key security step in the force. Tell us about it. 

When I was posted in A&N Police, it was for the first time I initiated security and fire audit at the five star and VVIP establishments. As we know, A&N is tourist destination and hosts numerous high profile entertainment establishments and hotels. The government in A&N purchased fire and emergency vehicle and hydraulic platforms after the audit. This was fir the first time such an audit was done to ensure safety of the citizens and tourists in the UT. After the audit, the hotels, guest houses, restaurants and other establishments started ensuring fire and emergency safety as top priority under regular monitoring of the A&N Police. 

5) During your posting as additional DCP in Shahdara district during your previous stint with Delhi Police, you had initiated special communication with the drug victims. How did that help the victims?

When I posted as additional DCP Shahdara, I started the first counselling session with the drug addicts in the area. These sessions were for juvenile drug addicts who fell into the wrong company due to their poor backgrounds and no education. I used to meet them regularly, help them get into the process of de addiction and counsel them regularly to give up drugs permanently. It was a mammoth task as the kids were completely addicted and used to return back to drugs in some time. The families especially parents were counselled and aided to help the kids further to give up on drugs. We also got them employed so that they were self-sufficient and cut off from wrong company of petty gangs and circle in their area and begin a new drug free life. This was the first initiative for juvenile drug addicts in Shahdara district o Delhi Police. 

6) You are an engineer who also worked in government services. What inspired you to take up policing and IPS as a career?

I was into government services in Telangana state. I was a commercial tax officer in state civil services and before that an assistant executive engineer in the government. I got inspired to do UPSC and after clearing it got IPS. I moved from Telangana to Delhi after receiving the AGMUT cadre and I feel privileged to start my journey from Delhi. I started as ACP Chanakyapuri that has Embassies in its jurisdiction so got exposure to VVIP and VIP security, high profile events from the beginning. This helped me to shape my thoughts and goals in services and understand Delhi and its topography. 

DCP Amrutha Guguloth was born and raised in Telangana. She did her schooling from Khammam and procured her B Tech from Osmania University. She worked as assistant executive engineer and commercial tax officer in Telangana before taking up IPS. In Delhi, she was posted as ACP Chanakyapuri, additional DCP Shahdara, North West district, Traffic and also served in the A&N Police. 

Amrutha Guguloth believes that women must take up challenging professions without any fear and perform without any barriers. She opines that when women in police should not constrain themselves to any biases and #BreakTheBias to rise up.