In continuation of the story of his very interesting life as a police officer in Bihar, Indian Masterminds presents the second part of the action-packed life of IPS officer Manu Maharaj. In the first part, we wrote how he often lands up in disguise in police stations and checkpoints to conduct surprise checks on his own police personnel.
Today, we bring to our readers some more interesting anecdotes from his never-a-dull-moment life and his extraordinary ways of working which cause both shock and awe in his admirers and detractors alike.
MAHARAJ’S MOUSTACHE
Mr. Manu Maharaj is as much known for his work as also for his moustache. In fact, many admire his moustache and have even replicated its style. The officer narrated the story behind this famous moustache to Indian Masterminds, a story no less interesting than the man himself!
People who know him now would be surprised to know that a decade ago, he used to wear a clean-shaved look. As SP of Rohtas, he went to Yadhunathpur (trijunction of Jharkhand, UP and Bihar) with his team for an operation on 13 March 2011. It was a highly sensitive area as it had been recently captured by Naxalites. After completing the operation, they were going back, when suddenly the Naxals surrounded them and didn’t allow them to move for around 5-6 hours. News spread that he was killed by the Naxals and even an obituary started circulating.
“We had a narrow escape. When I came back, my wife said that I look too soft. I should keep a moustache. I took her advice and now I believe that the moustache has been very lucky for me. With the moustache, I also took a pledge to remove the Naxals, and gladly my team was able to do that,” Mr. Maharaj said.
ARRESTING BIG SHOTS
Not just the Naxals, Mr. Maharaj has locked horns with many high-profile politicians and bureaucrats also. Whether it is arresting a BJP leader associated with mafia or an IAS officer involved in a scam, the officer has never stepped back from taking action against illegal activities.
It made big headlines when he arrested IAS officer Sudhir Kumar, involved in BSCC paper (for recruitment of Sub-Inspector, etc.) leak scam. Talking about it, he said, “The scam was big, and a SIT was formed for the investigation. I was the head. We had strong evidence against the people involved, so we took action. We arrested around 50 people and didn’t get any order to undo the action. No one can escape if they are into illegal activities.”
TACKLING MAOISTS
Mr. Maharaj also launched ‘Operation Viswas’ to tackle the growing influence of the Maoists in Rohtas. The operation was launched in coordination with CRPF and other security forces. Apart from bridging the gap between people and police, a coaching institute was also opened in Nauhatta under the initiative, where young boys and girls were also given vocational training and offered jobs in the security forces afterwards. The outcome of the initiative was so satisfactory that Mr. Maharaj carried this out in other places also. Taking pride in the initiative, he says that many have also become engineers and doctors after attending coaching classes in the institute.
LOVES BORDERS
Mr. Maharaj is currently posted in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, as the DIG of Indo-Tibetian Border Police (ITBP). He is on central deputation and is quite liking this somewhat different job in a different state. He has always been fascinated by borders and guarding the border posts and the men give him immense satisfaction, which is why he chose ITBP. He also has a special connection with mountains, he says; so this posting is like homecoming for him.
