Ranjit Kumar Gupta

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Ranjit Kumar Gupta (often referred to as Ranjit Gupta) was Police Commissioner of Kolkata in the seventies and played a crucial role in tackling the Naxalite movement. He retired as the police chief of West Bengal.

Career

Gupta joined the Indian Police in 1942 and was the DIG (Border Police) during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He played a crucial role in tackling the Naxalite movement. He was hated by not only the ultra-left radicals and human rights activists for his bold and strong line of action, but also by mainstream politicians, whose line he refused to toe. However, his juniors held him in high regard, particularly for his integrity and strong character.[1][2]

During the troubled Naxalite movement days, he worked directly under Govind Narain, who was the Union Home Secretary. He is particularly credited for the conduct of elections in 1971. Quite often in the thick of controversy he had trouble with the political establishment in April 1971 and proceeded on leave. He returned in 1972 as Special IG of West Bengal (then police chief) and continued till July 1976. Thereafter, he retired prematurely.[2]

Endowed with impeccable manners, he was an eminent scholar and anthropologist.[2]

Prasun Mukherjee, a senior police officer who served under him, in an obituary tribute said, “In the departure of Mr Ranjit Gupta, we have lost a person who had become a legend during his career, who was a born leader of a force, was confident of himself, trusted his juniors and identified himself with them so much that he called himself a Policeman and not a Police Officer.”[3]

He died on 19 May 2012 at the age of 93.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Officer dead". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph, 20 May 2012. 20 May 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-22. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Former top cop passes away, juniors remember an’ outstanding officer’". The Times of India, Kolkata, 20 May 2012. 20 May 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-22. 
  3. ↑ Mukherjee, Prasun (21 May 2012). "Born leader of police force". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph, 21 May 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-22. 
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