RR Swain Dove Cop

Tassaduq Rashid

Rashmi Ranjan Swain, a seasoned 1991 batch IPS officer of the Jammu and Kashmir cadre, who now hails from the AGMUT cadre, has been appointed as the Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police. With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, Swain has become synonymous with uprooting terror infrastructure in J&K.
A scrupulously honest officer, Swain has many feathers in his cap, besides having the distinction of serving as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of both the capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu. He was on the central deputation for over 15 years and served in many capacities, besides a foreign posting – that is given to outstanding officers for their ability.
PROFILE
From 2001 to 2003, when terrorism was at its peak, Swain served as SSP Srinagar while from 2003 to 2004, he served as SSP Jammu. Besides, he has also served as SSP Ramban, Poonch, and Leh. Known for his honesty and dedication, Swain also served as Assistant Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General of Police in the J&K Vigilance Organisation from 2004 to 2006.
Later, he proceeded on central deputation where he served in many capacities including a foreign posting that is only being given to outstanding officers for their ability in their respective fields.
BACK TO J&K
In June 2020, Swain was repatriated to J&K after the J&K government requested the Centre to avail his services. On June 15, he was appointed as the intelligence chief of J&K replacing B Srinivas, a 1990 batch J&K cadre IPS officer, who has now been posted as DGP Pondicherry.
After taking over as the intelligence chief, Swain destroyed the network that was aiding and fuelling terrorism, and the menace of stone pelting ended, while schools and business establishments functioned normally.
He made it possible to work on a doctrine that killing a terrorist was not enough unless all those involved in harboring the terrorist were identified and brought to the book. Strict action was taken against the Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and support networks providing any kind of support to the terrorists in his tenure.
An important factor of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir was funding that was choked by his strict efforts, subsequently leading terrorism to the gasp in J&K.
In November 2021, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) was formed in J&K to crack down on terror. The SIA’s formation was his brainchild and Swain had the honor to be its first Director and solve the decades-old murder case of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, Molvi Muhammad Farooq.
The SIA investigated and is investigating several terror-related cases including narco-terrorism and has even made the arrests of the accused in other states of the country.
WHAT HE SAID RECENTLY
During his recent briefs on the sidelines of events organized by the J&K Police, Swain said that J&K Police was the unique force that was fighting the enemy that gets support from outside and their fight was for the people who respect the law.
“We endeavour to root out the level of fear from the people’s hearts and minds,” he said. “A state of non-violence can be achieved only by protecting non-violent people from violence.”
Swain said: “It takes a lot of courage since the fight is against few people from within. It needs a lot of courage as other forces do not have to face such things. J&K Police is carrying on the fight silently that too keeping in mind the section of the society which is not heard, be it a poor shopkeeper, a low-ranking government employee, or a lawyer.”
He had said that the J&K Police would stand by all those who want to earn an honest livelihood by abiding by the law. He said that a distinction needed to be made between the peace-loving people and those whose ulterior motive was violence.
“Our fight is against those projecting violence. Our fight is for the public and we endeavour to root out the level of fear from the people’s hearts and minds,” he said.
Swain said that it had been the rich history of J&K Police to work against people involved in unlawful activities for the larger interest of the people.
He said that J&K Police was committed to continue to work for the safety, security, and welfare of the people who abide by the rule of the law to the best possible extent.
A PERSON OF HIGHEST INTEGRITY, COMPETENCY
Swain served as SSP Ramban when former DGP K Rajendra was DIG and SSP Srinagar when he was Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone.
Top officers in J&K Police described Swain as an outstanding officer and said that he was a position holder at Hyderabad Police Academy.
“Swain has always done outstandingly well and he will do wonders as DGP,” they said. “Swain is a man of an amicable character and will be the finest J&K DGP.”
“If I am not wrong he was topper during training. He was the best probationary officer, exceeding well during training,” a top police officer told.
He said post Article 370, Swain’s handling of the situation was extremely commendable and said, “Swain is a very meticulous person and professionally competent to the core”. “He is a person of the highest integrity and competency, no-nonsense, and very upright.”
Since he took over the charge of DGP J&K, Swain held series of meetings with top brass of Police, Army, CRPF and other wings of security agencies wherein he discussed the security situation threadbare and sought suggestion from officers in dealing militancy and its eco-system with iron hand.
On November 13, DGP RR Swain said that the role and cooperation of the people in the prevailing peaceful scenario is highly commendable and directed strengthening and augmenting of security grids.
“The role and cooperation of the people in the prevailing peaceful scenario is highly commendable,” the DGP RR Swain said while chairing a high-level security meeting in southern Kulgam. He said that the Police and its sister agencies and the general public have to work together to defeat saboteurs and enemies of peace.
Accompanied by Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Vijay Kumar and IGP Kashmir, V K Birdi the joint security review meeting was attended by high-ranking officers of the Police, Army, and CRPF, and the top Police officer of J&K.
The meeting discussed measures to bring and retain peace and eliminate terrorism. The DGP during the meeting stressed maintaining a peaceful, secure environment by people-friendly policing.
Highlighting the importance of people’s role in the prevailing scenario, the DGP stressed upon the officers to evolve more effective mechanisms and ensure public safety while dealing with the elements inimical to peace. He also stressed upon strengthening the mechanism of sharing intelligence inputs among the stakeholders at different levels.
J&K Police chief said that masters of terror across the border and their puppets in J&K were desperate to disturb the prevailing peace in J&K. He said cowardly attacks on innocent civilians and forces exhibit the frustration of terror handlers to disrupt the peace and order in J&K.
R R Swain directed the officers that the action against terrorists and their sympathisers should continue and all the suspicious elements be kept under proper surveillance to thwart their ill designs aimed at disrupting the peaceful atmosphere. He directed the officers to strengthen and augment the security grid in their respective areas for the safety and security of the people in general, and vulnerable sections in particular.
The DGP stressed upon the importance of maintaining close synergy between Police and other forces to ensure a peaceful environment.
On the killing of a police constable in north Kashmir’s Tangmarg the DGP said that killings of colleagues and civilians would not be allowed and perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice soon.
“We have lost a member of our Police Parivar, a nobleman, a father, a brother, and a citizen of Kashmir as well,” R R Swain told reporters after visiting the family of the fallen cop at Wailoo in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Head Constable Ghulam Muhammad Dar was shot dead by terrorists near his residence at Wailoo Kralpora village of Baramulla on November 2. Dar was shot multiple times from point-blank range.
The J&K Police chief said that all the officers including, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar; Deputy Inspector General (DIG) North Kashmir Range (NKR) Vivek Gupta; and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla Amod Ashok Nagpure had vowed to reach to the bottom of the matter, identify the killer and all those who supported him in any way and bring them to book.
“The investigation is on but we cannot share the details. However, we have got leads in the case and are working on those. We are fully confident that we will bring them to book,” the DGP said.
Swain, who was flanked by ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, said that there was no doubt that some people sitting across had not shunned this plan.
“They will continue to make plans, but if we change the atmosphere, and take people along, it will render their plans unsuccessful,” he said. “They (Pakistan) will send people here, but we will create such a situation here that they will find no supporters here.”
The DGP said that Pakistani land was not “under our control” and they send people, arms and ammunition, and narcotics not money to build hospitals, schools, or roads.
“But, we will be successful in foiling their attempts when no one here will be ready to support them,” he said. “We will create such a situation here and our first action will start this winter.”
Swain said: “We will not allow any loss of life of our colleagues or civilians. Whoever supports terrorists, whether they are sitting across or here, will be brought to book.”
Later, in the afternoon, the DGP visited Police Station Pattan where he reviewed the functioning of the Police Station and also checked the details of crime records. Interacting with the jurisdictional Police personnel, he stressed adopting comprehensive counter-measures to tackle terror crime incidents.
“Protecting the lives of people is our responsibility,” Swain said. He stressed augmenting the security in vulnerable places to prevent unfortunate incidents.
The DGP directed the officers to further strengthen communication within the ranks and augment the security grids in their respective areas for the safety and security of the people.
He said that all suspicious elements providing any kind of support to terrorist activities should be kept under the radar to foil their attempts.
“Stringent action should be taken against the elements found involved in anti-peace activities,” Swain said.