User:Brohini/Shankar bidari

Introduction

Shri Shankar Mahadev Bidari an IPS officer of 1978 batch of Karnataka cadre is the most decorated IPS officer of the state who has earned a formidable reputation as a dynamic, dedicated, brave ,upright and capable officer throughout his career.

Early days

Shankar Bidari was born in Galagali village of Bilagi Taluk in Bagalkoat district on 27’th August 1954.His fathe Shri Mahadevappa Bidari was an Agriculturist and Secretary of weavers’ Co-operative Society. After his education in Government Kannada Boys’ School and S.R.A. High school Banahatti,he joined G.I. Bagewadi  College,Nippani.He joined Post and Telegraph Department and served as a telephone operator from 20th july.1971 to 31’st January 1977.Meanvile he obtained B.A. degree in Economics,as an external candidate from Karnataka University in 1975.He was selected as probationary Assistant Commissioner in Karnataka Administrative Servise by the K.P.S.C.he joined service as prob.Assistant Commissioner on 7.2.1977.After initial training at Mysore,he underwent district training in Gulbarga.In 1978 he was selected to Indian Police Service, joined in july 1978 and allotted to Karnataka State.

Beginning of an illustrious career

Shankar Bidari has displayed rare courage,confidence,and ability from the very beginning of his career.As ASP (Assistant Superintendent of Police)he suppressed gambling and illegal activities with a heavy hand.He handled serious law and order problems in the face of risk of his life and excelled in prevention,detection and investigation of crimes.He served with distinction as SP in Mandya,Chitradurga,Tumkur,Bellary,Railway Police and Dharwad districts and brought about impressive improvement in the Police administration in these districts.

In 1982,he was hand –picked to serve as SP Mandya when the district was seriously afflicted by communal disturbances,farmer agitations,labour agitations and caste conflicts.By his hard work, bravery,administrative and investigation skills and ability to lead his men,he restored order in Mandya district and ensured that General Electons to the Assembly in 1982 were held peacefully.In 1982,when Tumkur district was in flames on account of dispute in a religious institution,he was posted as SP Tumkur.He dealt with the situation bravely and impartially with a firm hand and restored order.In 1990 as SP Bellary,he ensured that his district remained as the only incident-free district when all the districts in the state were affected by serious and widespread communal disturbances in the wake of Ram Shila Yatra.His role in suppressing anti-Tamil riots in 1991 in the wake of notification of interim award of Cauvery Tribunal earned widespread appreciation.

He organised,supervised and personally led the investigation in the sensational and serious cases like Mahalakshmi Train Decoity case,nation-wide racket of diversion of railway wagons,arrest of number of decoity gangs and detection of more than 200 decoities which had taken place throughout South India,cases of Highway decoities in Bellary District and arrests of several other gangs of robbers,chain snatchers,smugglers and racket of smuggling of ammunition to PWG in Andhra Pradesh from Goa,large scale theft of components in HMT factory and numerous burglaries.

As DCP Headquarters,Bangalore city,he playe a key role in the arrest of LTTE militants Shivarasan and Shuba who were wanted in Rajive Gandhi murder case.With a small team ,he traced and arrested 10 ULFA militants who were hiding in Bangalore city and wanted by Assam Police.In September 1990,he made a bold attempt to nab a wanted terrorist of Andhra Pradesh by name Bimala Naik who was hiding in a farm house near Bellary and in the encounter ,Bimala Naik was killed.He served as an Escort officer to late Shri Rajiv Gandhi ,the then Prime Minister of India during SAARC summit in 1986.

In February 1993,he was posted as Commander, Task Force, Malaimahadeshwara Hills to trace and arrest the notorious sandalwood smuggler, elephant poacher and killer Veerappan and his gang members when the force was totally demoralized after repeated terrorist acts committed by the gang. In this challenging assignment, he worked hard in a systematic manner with zeal, determination, courage and gallantry in extremely difficult circumstances in hostile and difficult terrain for a period of three and half years. He led his force from the front against the gang in a number of encounters. The gang of more than 150 members,135 firearms and 3 tons of explosives in 1993 was decimated to 5 members by April 1996.Under his leadership,60 gang members were killed in various encounters and 126 gang members and harbourers were arrested and 58 cases were registered, investigated and charge sheeted. Four of the arrested gang members were convicted to death sentence by the Supreme court. He recovered more than 3 tons of explosives and 126 firearms. fortitude, courage, gallantry, investigation, intelligence and leadership skills displayed by him in this operation are exemplary and unprecedented in the annals of Indian Police. For this outstanding work, Government of Karnataka awarded his team with a cash reward of Rs.8 crores and a personal reward of Rs.160 lakh. In recognition of his conspicuous courage and gallantry, he was awarded the First Bar to the Police Medal for Gallantry by the President of India, on the republic day 2011.

He was selected to serve as Deputy Inspector General of Police, Intelligence in June 1996. He was promoted to The rank of Inspector General of Police in 1998 and continued to work in Intelligence branch as IGP.As DIG he formulated the proposals for the formation of seven districts and ably assisted the then Chief Minister late shri J.H.Patel with intelligence inputs in the field of maintenance of law and order, prevention of communal incidents, matters related to Cauvery river water disputes and sharing of Krishna river water and draught situation and administration of the state. He streamlined the efforts to detect and deal with foreigners overstaying in India.

He visited Israel, France and United Kingdom as a part of state government delegation and studied the Police Systems in these countries in 1996.He also visited USA as a part of Central Government delegation and studied the anti-terrorist measures in 2003.

In October 1999,he was posted as IGP Planning, Research and Special units.He attended to the work of planning and relocation of Police Force,Creation of new police stations and improvements in Police Administration.

In the year 2000,he was posted as IGP,KSRP(Karnataka State Reserved Police).He was instrumental in providing infrastructure to all KSRP Battalions and improving the discipline,Morale and expertise of Karnataka state reserved police.In 2002,he was specially deputed to deal with  serious agitation of farmers in the context of Orders of the Cauvery River Water dispute tribunal.at Kabini dam in H.D.Kote Taluk of Mysore district.He handled these agitations with distinction and earned encomiums from Justice Mohd.Anwar Commission of Enquary.

In 2004,he was posted as IGP, Central Range.He supervised Nelmangala liquor tragedy cases and ensured the arrest of all culprits.He took initiative and detected large scale cultivation of poppy in Kolar District.

As his promotion as ADGP(Additional Director General of Police) in August 2005, he was posted as ADGP Administration in State Police Headquarters.In this assignment,he brought about impressive changes in State Police Administration.

He was posted as ADGP Law and Order in June 2006.during this tenure he took initiative to curb and control Maoist activities in Malnad disricts.He improved the anti-Naxalite force.A number of Maoists were arrested and several were killed in encounters with the Police force.He put down rowdyism in Shimoga and Belgaum Districts with a firm hand.He paid special attention to restoration communal harmony and suppression of communal elements in the coastal district of Dakshin Kannada(Mangalore).He organized and supervised the bandobust arrangements in connection with the agitataion in the wake of final award passed by Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.General Elections to Karnataka Legislative assembly took place peacefully under his able leadership.It is to his credit that during his tenure as ADGP Law and Order,not a single incident of Police Firing took place in the state of Karnataka.He strived hard to establish the Coastal Security Police on a sound footing.He handled the spurious liquor tragedy ,which claimed 200 lives,with dexterity and courage,and ensured that all the culprits are brought to book.

After a brief stint of ADGP, Intelligence,for one month,he was posted as Commissioner of Police,Bangalore City on 11th July 2008.As CoP Bangalore,he maintained peace,law and order and communal harmony for the period of 3 years.He brought about unprecedented improvement in the prevention and detection of crimes and recovery of stolen property.The recovery of stolen property in the year 2010 in Bangalore city is more than 86% which is a record not only in India but also the world.He implemented many innovative measures successfully,like communication of the status of investigation and prosecution of all cognizable cases to the complainants via SMS,supply of fuel to Police vehicles through Petro Cards,which has resulted in saving of more than Rs. 1 crore per month,Jana Sampark Sabhas on 3 days a week with women councilors to redress the grievances of the the public.He implemented the B-TRAC Scheme for improvement of traffic in the city,which earned the Gold Award for innovative use of Technology in E-Governance in 2011,from Government of India.He brought about outstanding improvements in functioning of City Police.

Honors and medals

He is decorated with:

	Karnataka Chief Minister’s Gold Medal in 1989. 	Andhra Pradesh Mukyamantri Shourya Padakam in 1990. 	Karnataka Chief Minister’s Gold Medal for the second time in 1991. 	The Police Medal for Gallantry in 1991,awarded by the President of India. 	President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 1995. 	 President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2003. 	First Bar to the Police Medal for Gallantry in 2011,awarded by the President of India.

Many reputed institutions and associations all over the state have honored him with titles like “Vishwashri” “Kayakashri” “Basawashri” “Tipu Sultan Award” “Shri Vishveshwaraiah award” “Pride of Karnataka” “Shishunala Shariff Award” “Kumar Rama Award” “Karnatakshri Award” “Mallikarjun Mansoor Award” “Sangolli Rayanna Award” “Dr. Ambedkar Award ”out of love and affection for the selfless service rendered by him to the people of the state.

Family

He is married to Dr.Umadevi Bidari,who served with Karnataka Health Department as a gynecologist upto 2001.He is blessed with a daughter and a son.His daughter Smt Vijayalakshmi Bidari Prasanna secured all India first rank in Civil Services Examination 2001 and is now serving as an IAS(Indian Administrative Sevice) Officer in Maharashtra state.His son Vijayendra Bidari is serving as an IPS Officer in Tamilnadu state.