Archives

BANGALORE, India, Nov 22 (AFP) - The new police chief of the southern Indian city of Bangalore is an unusual man. He once fined himself for violating a traffic regulation and has had not one, but three, films made about his life.

After more than three decades of service, 58-year-old Hmar Tlawmte Sangliana, is known as an honest and feared police officer.

But it is through the silver screen that Sangliana, nicknamed the "tough cop", has become famous.

Cinema producers have made three movies about him in the last 10 years -- the not-so-originally entitled Sangliana I, Sangliana II and Sangliana III.

The late actor Shankar Nag portrayed Sangliana, busting fake currency rackets and arresting smugglers and drug peddlers.

The movies, which also had a heroine wooing the police officer, also showed Nag reforming gangsters and exposing corrupt politicians.

"I did not get any money from those movies but the producers raked in millions of rupees," Sangliana told AFP. "One producer has approached me to make a fourth movie."

On the streets of Bangalore, India's IT capital, the police officer's acts are legendary.

People still talk about the time he singlehandedly arrested a band of nine smugglers in the early 1980s.

Such was his reputation, that last year he was made head of a special police task force set up to capture India's most-wanted bandit Veerappan (eds: one name).

But he is probably more proud of his honesty than of his daredevil exploits.

He once told a chief minister of the state to pay back 125 rupees (2.6 dollars) for a wreath which the minister had ordered through the police department.

"To some it sounded foolish but not me," Sangliana said "After that incident he (chief minister) showed ... faith and trust in me."

The most decorated police officer in the state, Sangliana once filed a case against his wife for using official car for shopping.

And around 10 years ago he fined himself for violating a traffic law when his car went over a stop line.

"People should know that I am an honest police officer," Sangliana said.

When he took over as police chief last month, the tall and bespectacled Sangliana introduced sweeping changes in his department.

He revamped the traffic rules, gave more powers to senior officials to combat crime and said he wanted to bring the police closer to the people.

He attributes his achievements to his unfailing faith in the Bible.

"I think I am able to bring a human face to police because I am a God-fearing man," Sangliana told AFP.

"Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. I always look into my conscience which has to be in tune with the expectations of the Bible. I will turn my cheek seven times if I want to avoid violence," he said.

The residents of Bangalore look up to him as someone who can solve their problems -- rare praise for a police officer in India.

People wait in queues outside his office with complaints and Sangliana listens to them patiently.

"My doors are open to everyone. Even criminals can come in and talk provided they agree to change themselves," he said.

Sangliana began his career in the Indian Police Service in 1967. Born in India's northeastern state of Mizoram he came to Karnataka a year later to serve in its police department.

He never dreamt of joining the police force as an youngster and was even detained by police when he was still a student when they mistakenly identified him as a tribal guerrilla.

"I got wild. I started hating the police so much never knowing that one day I will be doing the same," he said.

But after his father died he had to look after his family and wanted to find a good job. So he changed his mind about the police force -- much to the relief of the people of Bangalore. 

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager