Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Senior IPS officer Neeraj Kumar on Saturday took over as Delhi Police Commissioner succeeding BK Gupta, who retired after serving 36 years in different police organisations.
Kumar, a 1976-batch officer, was serving as Tihar Jail Director General before his transfer to Delhi Police where he earlier was Special Commissioner (Administration). He will retire in July next year.
Speaking to the press, Kumar said the main focus will be on curbing terror activities in Delhi.
Saying he has assumed big responsibility, Kumar said he would try to make Delhi crime free.
He said it was wrong to call Delhi a rape capital, and assured he will strive to improve police-public relationship.
Gupta had taken over as Commissioner on November 10, 2010 after then chief Y S Dadwal was transferred to Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) as its Director General.
Earlier today, Gupta was given a warm farewell where he said constables who stand under scorching sun for long hours while performing their duties are the "real heroes" and they should be treated with respect.
Gupta also said that he had a "very satisfying" tenure as the capital`s police chief and claimed that street crime had reduced after he had taken over.
Reacting to his new assignment, Kumar had earlier said that it was a matter of "great honour and I will try hard to fulfil the expectations".
During his career spanning 36 years, Kumar has held various important posts, including in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Delhi Police.
Before taking over as the head of Tihar in November 2010, Asia`s largest prison, Kumar successfully handled security arrangement of the sporting mega event Commonwealth Games here in 2010 as Special Commissioner.
Kumar, a post graduate from Stephens who started his career in IPS as Assistant Commissioner of Police of Chanakyapuri circle in 1979, had led various teams which cracked terror networks in the country.
He has worked on several important cases which include deportation of Aftab Ansari from Dubai in 2002. Ansari was the main accused in the shooting at the American Center in Kolkata.
(With PTI inputs)
