Three young IPS officers are presently serving in the Gorakhpur district, where Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s constituency, Gorakhpur Urban, also falls. What makes these officers unique, other than the fact that they are three young turks handpicked to work in the CM’s home turf, is the special bond they share. This bond goes beyond a work relationship. That’s why they call themselves ‘The Three Musketeers’!
The officers are SP City, Mr. Krishan Kumar Bishnoi (IPS : 2018), ASP/CO Chauri Chaura, Mr. Manush Pareek (IPS : 2020) and ASP (under training) Mr. Aditya Singh (IPS : 2021).
Speaking exclusively to Indian Masterminds, they spoke freely about the unique bond they share, and how they bonded in the first place.
3 YOUNG TURKS IN HOME TURF OF CM
All three IPS officers are posted in different parts of the Gorakhpur district. SP Krishan Kumar Bishnoi and ASP (under training) Aditya Singh are posted in Gorakhpur Urban which CM Yogi represents in the Assembly, while ASP Manush Pareek is posted in Gorakhpur Rural. But, be it urban or rural, the entire district is the home turf of the CM and he keeps a hawk’s eye over it.
However, that’s not the only common thread that binds the three officers together. They are full of young energy, and age-wise also, close to each other, falling in the 28-32 age group. They also share some common interests like running, music, and discussing about international relations, and crimes and policing. But, there is one constant commonality in their lives, and that is ‘fighting stress together’.
“Policing the Hon’ble Chief Minister’s constituency is a high pressure job,” said SP Bishnoi. “We have to be alert at all times,” said trainee ASP Singh. “We have to be on our toes always,” said ASP Pareek, whose posting place, Chaura Chaura, touches the CM’s constituency.
BONDING OVER STRESS
Yet, it is this ‘stress’ that has brought them closer at work and helped them bond on a personal level also. The two younger officers turn to their senior in times of crisis for guidance, and the senior shows them the way and even handholds them out of it, if necessary.
“I am lucky that I got my first posting here. Krishan sir is like a big brother to me. Whenever I face any problem, I just go to him and he helps me to find a way out of the mess. Knowing that he has my back at all times is very reassuring,” said trainee ASP Aditya Singh, who is experiencing his first posting.
Mr. Pareek, who is serving in his second posting (his first posting was in Ghaziabad), said, “The fact that Krishan ji is very approachable helps, as we can approach him with our problems knowing that he will not judge us for our mistakes.”
Does Mr. Bishnoi scold him for mistakes? Mr. Pareek laughed at this question, and said, “No, no, he doesn’t. You see, we share a very close personal equation, too.”‘
A STRONG TEAM
This personal equation is the basis of their effortless teamwork. They work as a strong team which makes it easier to crack cases and resolve law and order situations. The sharing of information and progress between them helps to strategise and take action quickly.
And if the younger ones falter for some reasons, Big Bro Musketeer is always there to steady them. “Working as a team helps ease the pressure of policing a high profile district. We are there for each other to lend a helping hand and, if need be, even shoulder each other’s responsibilities,” said the seniormost musketeer, Mr. Bishnoi.
It was him actually who first tagged themselves with the name, ‘The Three Musketeers’, and the two others followed suit.
The ‘asking and receiving of help’ has been a great learning experience for all three officers, especially the younger two. Both Mr. Pareek and Mr. Singh admit that having Mr. Bishnoi in their team has helped them grow as a policeman, as well as a person.
Mr. Singh said, “This is my first posting after probation. And it is in the CM’s constituency. In the beginning, I was unsure how to go about my duties. Krishan sir infused confidence in me by assigning me important cases and responsibilities.”
Mr. Pareek also spoke on similar lines. “Although I am posted in Gorakhpur rural, Krishan ji gives me important assignments in the urban areas that are not within my jurisdiction so that I can learn on the job. This shows the amount of confidence and faith he has in us.”
INSTANT CONNECTION
However, the faith and confidence did not come instantly, like their connection happened. “Yes, we connected immediately,” said Mr. Pareek. “We bonded right from the start,” echoed Mr. Singh.
The credit, of course, goes to Mr. Bishnoi, to the fact that he is very approachable and believes in making one feel comfortable in his presence.
As for Mr. Bishnoi showing faith and trust in them, Mr. Pareek had a different take on it: “He comes to us because he believes that we will give him a fresh and unbiased perspective.” And, this makes sense, considering that being young and new on the job, they come with new ideas, and are most likely to give out-of-the-box solutions.
Being young has certain other advantages as well. They tend to be more idealistic and more enthusiastic. They still hold their values close to their heart and want to see those values reflected in society. At the end of the day, police is, after all, a reflection of the society they work for.
ALL PRAISE FOR CHIEF
In this regard, Mr. Pareek praised their chief, SSP Gorakhpur Dr. Gaurav Grover, who, he says, is “not only a strict law enforcer but also a compassionate and empathetic person as he was an MBBS doctor before joining IPS.”
The senior IPS officer’s compassionate side seems to have rubbed off on the three musketeers as well, as they unanimously agree that their duty is paramount to everything. To serve society and ensure safety and security of all sections of people are their topmost priority.
COMMON INTERESTS
When not working together, they are working out together in the gym. They also go running together early morning and listen to music often.
“Each one of us has a favourite genre but we have made a collection and often sit down to listen to it together after a hard day at work,” said Mr. Pareek. Where? In each other’s homes. “Krishan sir often calls us for breakfast or dinner at his residence. And, at times, we invite him home,” added Mr. Singh.
Food is another thing they have in common. Mr. Pareek said, “All three of us love diary products. I and Krishan ji are from Rajasthan. He is from Jaisalmer and I am from Jhunjhunu. Aditya is from Muzaffarnagar, UP. People in this northern belt are usually very fond of diary products.”
BONDING OVER A CUP OF COFFEE
After a long day at work, they also like to relax and bond over a cup of coffee. Mr. Singh said, “There was this time when we had a meeting in Gorakhpur Police HQ that went on till 1 am. After that, three of us went to the only cafe that stays open 24 hours, and had coffee and some small bites. The cafe’s name is 24×7!”
During such times, they indulge in small talks and crack jokes. “We crack jokes at each other’s expense too, but, of course, I cannot tell you about them,” Mr. Pareekh said with a laugh.
At times like this, they are no longer cops or colleagues. They are just friends having a good laugh over a cup of refreshing coffee. Such moments draw them closer and make their bond grow stronger.
COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER
Their engagement in casual banter shows that the relationship they share goes much, much beyond their profession. It is a synergy of three bright minds and young energies, with a boundless passion for hard work.
It’s not just the IPS stamp that brought them together. All three come from different backgrounds, yet, at the level of leadership and teamwork, they complement each other perfectly, making them indeed ‘The Three Musketeers’.
