Hyderabad, 12 November (H.S.): Senior IPS officer Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagwat, known for his work in community policing and combating human trafficking, has been appointed as the new Commissioner of Hyderabad City Police in a major reshuffle involving 21 IPS officers ordered by the Telangana government on Thursday.

A 1995-batch IPS officer of the Telangana cadre, Bhagwat brings extensive experience in policing, law and order, crime prevention and public protection to the new assignment. He succeeds V.C. Sajjanar, who has been transferred as Director General of Telangana Fire, Disaster Response, Emergency and Civil Defence, with additional charge of the Special Protection Force.

Bhagwat's career has been marked by initiatives addressing human trafficking, child labour and community-based policing. During his earlier postings, he initiated Project Aasara in Nalgonda district, a community policing initiative focused on combating human trafficking. The project received the International Association of Chiefs of Police's Webber Seavy Award for law enforcement and civil rights in 2006.

His work in Adilabad district also received international recognition. The community policing initiative 'Police Mekosam' (Police for You), implemented in a Naxalite-affected region, won an International Community Policing Award and special recognition in the Homeland Security category at an International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in 2004.

In 2017, the United States Department of State recognised Bhagwat as a 'Trafficking in Persons Report Hero' for his efforts against human trafficking. He also received international recognition in 2018 from the International Association of Chiefs of Police for his work supporting children of migrant workers rescued from brick kilns, including the establishment of worksite schools to help them continue their education.

Bhagwat served as the first Commissioner of Police of the Rachakonda Commissionerate from July 2016. His service was recognised with the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2022. He had earlier received the President's Police Medal for Gallantry in 2004 and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2011.

Apart from field policing, Bhagwat has contributed to training and awareness initiatives. According to the Rachakonda Police, he mentored more than 1,500 civil services aspirants and contributed to eight publications on anti-trafficking brought out with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other institutions.

In the latest reshuffle, Sajjanar's new assignment is among several key changes in the State police administration. The government has also assigned new responsibilities to senior officers in the areas of prisons, women's safety, anti-corruption, traffic management and police operations.

Bhagwat's appointment brings an officer with experience in conventional policing and specialised interventions to the helm of the Hyderabad City Police.

Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar