‘A Tragedy Motivated Me to Stop Medication & Grow to be an IPS Officer’

[ad_1]

In current months, movies like Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s twelfth Fail and The Viral Fever (TVF) internet collection Aspirants have captured the creativeness of 1,000,000 Indians. On the coronary heart of their enchantment lies a story of wrestle, redemption, and status that comes from passing one of many hardest aggressive examinations on the earth—the UPSC (Union Public Service Fee) Civil Companies Examination (CSE)—and the life this landmark achievement follows.  (Above picture of Dr Ram Gopal Naik, a 2002-batch IPS officer) 

Thus, it comes as no shock that plans are afoot but once more within the Hindi movie trade to make a film primarily based on the life and profession of Dr Ram Gopal Naik, a 2002-batch officer of the Indian Police Service (IPS). Portraying the doctor-turned-police officer’s eventful life is Imran Zahid, an actor who lately performed the function of a younger man from a small city in Bihar who desires of changing into an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer within the 2023 movie Ab Dilli Dur Nahin

Additionally starring veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, this film was impressed by the real-life story of Govind Jaiswal, a rickshaw puller’s son who turned an IAS officer in 2007. 

Talking to The Higher India, Dr Naik, who’s at present the DCP (deputy commissioner of police), Metro Police, within the nationwide capital, says, “The information got here as a serious shock. It was an emotional second for my spouse and kids. They have been so excited. Primarily based on real-life incidents, a film about my life will inspire my workers additional. In spite of everything, it’s an actual type of recognition for our work. As an officer, I is usually a function mannequin for them.”  

In the meantime, talking about enjoying a real-life character, Imran says, “Everytime you painting a residing particular person in a efficiency, it turns into an authoritative portrayal of their experiences: their motivations, the challenges they confronted, and the way they overcame their struggles.”

Playing the role of a real-life IPS officer
Imran Zahid (on the precise) strolling with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. The actor will play an IPS officer in his upcoming movie.

Selecting IPS over drugs     

Born in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh (AP), Dr Naik grew up in an upper-middle-class household the place his father served as an officer within the customs and central excise division, whereas his mom was a homemaker. Like hundreds of children in AP, his preliminary aim was to change into a health care provider. 

It was throughout his third 12 months of medical college learning MBBS that he determined to organize for the central civil companies examination. Nonetheless, what impressed this resolution was a private tragedy. 

Whereas learning on the Andhra Medical Faculty within the early Nineties, his brother-in-law was murdered following a enterprise rivalry. A stunning growth, it left his household coping with a disaster. However, amid this disaster, he noticed one thing that would go away an indelible impression.    

“There have been many influential folks with infamous prison backgrounds concerned on this homicide case. Fortuitously, we had an excellent police officer who pretty investigated the case. On this case, I noticed the most effective of what a police officer can do and the impression they will have on our society. As an officer of the legislation, he was capable of assist our household, handle different professionals engaged on this investigation, and nab the culprits as effectively. As an alternative of changing into a health care provider, I felt I might be extra helpful to society as a police officer,” remembers Dr Naik.  

Whereas Dr Naik struggles to recall the title of the officer who solved his brother-in-law’s homicide greater than 30 years after it occurred, he can’t neglect the impression the episode left behind. In fact, with different members of the family out and in of the service motivating him to make that transition to a profession within the IPS, this reminiscence remained seared in his consciousness.   

After finishing his MBBS in 1996, he served as a health care provider for 3 years till 1999 when he determined that he wanted a whole shift away from a profession in drugs.        

“From my third 12 months onwards, I started getting ready for the UPSC examination. I used to be concurrently learning for my MBBS and getting ready for the Union Civil Companies examination. Following my MBBS, I labored at a non-public hospital in Visakhapatnam for a short time earlier than leaving for Hyderabad to hitch UPSC teaching lessons. To assist myself financially, nevertheless, I even labored on the Apollo Hospital in Jubilee Hills as an emergency doctor,” he remembers. 

“My resolution to give up drugs and put together [full-time] for the UPSC examination was met by vehement opposition within the household. They needed me to proceed as a health care provider and earn effectively,” he provides.  

In his first try, Dr Naik reached the interview stage however missed out. However serving to him alongside the best way have been just a few buddies he had identified since main college. They have been additionally getting ready for it. 

“They supported me so much. They might not get by means of however they have been pleased that I did,” he says.      

Their religion in Dr Naik would ultimately repay as he cleared the interview stage in his subsequent try. He joined the IPS in 2002 as a part of the DANIPS (Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Police Service) cadre. 

Since changing into an IPS officer, Dr Naik has gone on to realize an excellent deal. From receiving a particular commendation from the Andhra Pradesh authorities for organising reduction operations after Cyclone HUD HUD in 2014 to investigating and extraditing Sanjeev Chawla, the bookmaker famously concerned with the deceased cricket participant Hansie Cronje, in fixing matches between India and South Africa in 2000, Dr Naik has many achievements to his title. 

Different notable achievements embody initiating the modernisation strategy of the Lakshadweep Police throughout his first official posting and investigating and fixing the 2008 bomb blasts within the M-Block Market of Better Kailash, New Delhi. In 2018, he additionally solved the paper leak case of the CBSE Class 12 economics and Class 10 arithmetic examinations. 

In 2021, he gained the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry in January 2021 for conducting a daring rescue operation of a kidnapped 5-year-old boy in Sahibabad, Uttar Pradesh (UP). Throughout his profession, he has investigated a plethora of circumstances however this one stands out. 

Rescuing a toddler                  

On 25 January 2018, as preparations for that 12 months’s Republic Day celebrations have been in full pressure, a five-year-old son of a outstanding businessman in Northeast Delhi was kidnapped. 

Based on a report by The Indian Categorical, “Earlier than the kidnapping, the accused performed a recce of the realm for over a month and determined to focus on the varsity bus. They made three failed makes an attempt on January 21, 22 and 23.” Talking to the media, the then JCP (Crime Department) Alok Kumar recognized the accused as Nitin Sharma, Ravi Kumar, and Pankaj alias Singh Saheb. 

He additionally mentioned the three suspects had hatched a plan to kidnap the kid after “Sunny Gupta, father of the kid, lately finalised an actual property deal of Rs 60 lakh. The small print of the deal have been frequent information of everybody who stayed in Gupta’s locality GTB Enclave. Nitin thought he may earn a great ransom if he kidnapped Gupta’s son.”

On the morning of 25 January, when the varsity van was approaching the varsity, the abductors intercepted it and snatched the boy for ransom. The abductors shot the motive force within the leg and took the boy to a two-bedroom flat in Sahibabad’s Shalimar Metropolis residences. 

“On the time, I used to be working as DCP of Delhi Police Crime Department. Initially, the case was taken up by the native police. For every week, the native police couldn’t get any leads. On condition that the incident occurred a day earlier than Republic Day, there was loads of strain on the Delhi Police Commissioner to resolve this case and rescue the boy. My commissioner took a name that the case needs to be transferred to the Crime Department and I used to be chosen to deal with this delicate investigation given {that a} boy’s life was at stake,” he says. 

As soon as Dr Naik’s group took over the case, they deployed their sources on the bottom and introduced on officers with “good information of prison networks in Northeast Delhi”.  

“Certainly one of our officers ultimately bought a lead that three individuals have been lacking within the space the place the boy was picked up and that they could be concerned within the case. We additionally went by means of their prison information and posited that they might be concerned. In the meantime, we additionally stored in contact with the daddy of the boy who was receiving requires a ransom. Apart from these calls, he was additionally receiving movies [on WhatsApp] of the abductors claiming that they’ve his son and voice recordings too the place he may hear his son pleading to say, ‘Papa, I like you’,” he says.

Apart from coping with kidnappers, additionally they needed to take care of a terrified father. 

“He in all probability felt that cooperating with the police would put his son’s life in danger. Thus, he wasn’t being very cooperative. The abductors had demanded Rs 60 lakh as ransom and we requested him to barter to purchase a while and hint these calls. However we imagine he was actively hiding issues from us. We found that he was even arranging the cash to repay the abductors in order that his baby may come again dwelling,” he says. 

So, Dr Naik remembers that his group “engaged in some moral hacking” of the daddy’s cellphone in order that they may have first-hand details about what was being mentioned. In the meantime, the abductors set a date and placement for the trade. After this dialog, Dr Naik took the daddy into confidence and warranted him that they might rescue his baby.            

Talking to The Statesman on the time, Dr Naik mentioned, “As ransom calls have been additionally comprised of close by areas we chosen just a few areas and stored an in depth watch on just a few suspects there. In the meantime, by means of native sources and technical surveillance, police recognized Nitin as a major suspect. Police stored observe of his actions and deployed sources to maintain a better watch on him.”

“After we shared Nitin’s photos with the sufferer’s father, he recognized him as a frequent customer of the realm,” Naik famous. After an intensive investigation, he was recognized as one of many kidnappers.

After taking the daddy into confidence, Dr Naik realized that Nitin was attending a marriage in Northeast Delhi. In response to this information, Dr Naik and his group attended this marriage ceremony pretending to be visitors. On the marriage ceremony venue, one of many officers recognized the primary suspect. 

Initially, they considered nabbing him there however determined towards this transfer due to the commotion it could create. As an alternative, they trailed his automotive out of the venue. 

In his dialog with The Statesman, Dr Naik mentioned, “Police began following Nitin from 8 pm [on 5 February 2018] until 12.30 midnight [when he was intercepted]. He was driving his Swift at speeds near 90 km/hr to 100km/hr. Police adopted him on 4 bikes and 4 vans.” 

After the primary suspect dropped his girlfriend at her residence, the police continued trailing him. 

Once more, Dr Naik added, “Round 12.30 am, Nitin was intercepted close to a group block in Seemapuri [near the Delhi-UP border]. Earlier than his car stopped, he hit our car and he was drunk. He was additionally carrying three cellphones. On interrogation, he advised police that two of his buddies had stored the kid in a flat in Shalimar Metropolis in Sahibabad.” 

After getting the primary suspect to admit the place they have been holding the boy, there have been discussions amongst senior officers who have been knowledgeable of the interception that they need to wait to assemble extra pressure (personnel). Dr Naik disagreed and mentioned that there was no time and so they wanted to maneuver quick with the suspect of their custody. 

“Furthermore, his telephones are with us and if he’s unreachable, his accomplices could get alerted, depart the condominium, and probably hurt the boy as effectively. Fortunately, my high boss on the Delhi Crime Department trusted my instincts,” he says.  

Serving IPS officer
DCP Dr Ram Gopal Naik, a 2002-batch IPS officer

In exactly 1.5 hours, Dr Naik’s group reached the condominium advanced, did a whole recce of it, coated all of the exits, bought into the flat amidst a firefight, and rescued the boy. To know the structure of the two-bedroom condominium, Dr Naik and two different officers visited one other condominium in the identical advanced and requested the household residing inside if they may have a look. 

“As soon as we understood the structure of this condominium, we took positions outdoors the fifth-floor flat the place the kid was being stored. In the meantime, we additionally had a group ready under with blankets and nets prepared in case the abductors tried to throw the boy off the balcony. At this significant juncture, we determined to ship the suspect to ring the bell,” he remembers.  

The principle suspect Nitin proceeded to ring the bell, however the second his confederate opened the door he sensed that one thing was unsuitable and tried to close it instantly. 

“As he was about to close the door, I advised one in all my officers that we needed to break these doorways down. Fortunately, there was somewhat hole on high of the iron grill door. Certainly one of my officers was capable of bend the iron grill a part of the door down and that left sufficient area for me to enter. Following this, the abductors inside started firing at us,” he remembers. As per information studies, a bullet hit Inspector Vinay Tyagi’s vest, whereas one other hit commando Kuldip Singh. 

Amidst this chaos, Dr Naik climbed over the bent iron grill and took a peek on the hole left behind by a second picket door inside to see if the kid was inside the primary corridor of the flat. 

“I discovered that the boy wasn’t there. That’s once I ordered the personnel behind me to fireside again. There was an trade of fireside. One of many kidnappers was shot down on the bottom mendacity in a pool of blood whereas the opposite was shot within the leg. My group instantly adopted me inside whereas I went straight to the bed room to seek out the kid underneath a blanket,” he remembers. 

Suffice it to say, the kid was terrified following the trade of fireside outdoors. “I slowly took down the blanket and advised him, ‘Beta, mein police uncle hoon. Mein tumhare papa ke paas le jaane ke liye aaya hoon.’ After listening to these phrases, he instantly jumped up and doing and hugged me. I carried him out of the flat masking his eyes. As we have been driving to GTB Hospital, I known as up his father and advised him that we had rescued his baby safely. This was round 2 am within the wee hours [of 6 February 2018]. The daddy was asleep after we known as him,” he remembers.

In the meantime, among the many different two suspects contained in the flat, one was killed whereas the opposite was injured. The police personnel injured by gunshots have been saved by their bulletproof vests. 

“All of us made our strategy to GTB Hospital. After the physician on obligation confirmed that the kid had not suffered any critical accidents or abuse, the mother and father took him into their arms. It was an emotional second seeing these tearful mother and father reuniting with their son. I additionally shed a tear. 4 officers, together with me, obtained the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry,” he remembers. 

Whereas the lifetime of a police officer has its share of controversy and disappointments, it’s moments like these that make the journey price it. Seeing that tearful reunion between the mother and father and their son, “and the truth that you made it potential”, is what makes this path price it.  

(Edited by Padmashree Pande; Pictures courtesy Dr Ram Gopal Naik and Instagram/Imran Zahid)



[ad_2]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *