Patna, July 06: He is familiar with crime and criminals, what he is not is the turf he is taking them on. The former Bihar director general police (DGP) R R Prasad may have retired from his job, but has not got rid of people whom he chased all his life as he tries his luck in politics as a candidate in the Bihar Legislative Council election from Buxar-Bhojpur local bodies constituency.
The former state police chief is being challenged by 40 others including half-a-dozen having criminal background. However, the most serious challenge is from the dreaded history-sheeter Vishweshwar Ojha, on whose head a reward of Rs 20,000 was declared by Prasad during his tenure as DGP.

The indomitable former top cop of the state is least worried though. ''It is non-contest for me and my victory is as certain as death. I am the reference point for all my challengers and each of them says his contest is against me,'' the tall former policeman, who served in the Indian Army before joining the IPS told a news agency.

Sporting a bristly moustache, Prasad, who saw action in the 1971 war, says confidently, like General Niyazi laid his arms before General Arora, ''these so called muscle-men will surrender before me.'' On allegations by Ojha, who is reported to be giving Prasad a run for his money, that he was taking help of criminals in the election, he says philosophically, like Bapu who preached to hate sin and not the sinner, ''I ask people to hate crime and not the criminals.''

''I have earned their respect. After all they too are humans and their support for me should not be seen in the wrong perspective,'' he says.

Bureau Report