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 Chandigarh: Haryana’s new Director General of Police, O.P. Singh, appears to be redefining the way the state police communicates and connects — not just within the force, but with the people it serves. Within just two days of assuming charge, Singh has penned two open letters — one to the entire police force and another addressed personally to district police chiefs — laying out a vision of empathetic, people-centric, and reform-oriented policing.

In his latest letter, titled “Haryana ke Vibhinn Zilon Mein Mere Pyare SP, DCP aur CP”, dated October 17, Singh calls upon senior officers to make policing “friction-free” — a service that is dignified, efficient, and humane. The letter, released publicly like his earlier one, blends administrative clarity with poetic reflection, even quoting celebrated Urdu poet Rahat Indori to drive home a message of self-accountability: “Na hamsafar, na kisi hamnashi se niklega, hamare paon ka kaanta hum hi se niklega.” (“No companion or confidant will remove the thorn in our foot — only we ourselves will.”)

A People-First Policing Vision

Singh’s note to officers begins with an acknowledgement: 90% of citizens are law-abiding and seek only minimal police interference — just safety and fairness. He urges his officers to respect that trust by reducing unnecessary interventions, adopting intelligence-based checks, and ensuring cooperation during verifications. “Policing must be firm but frictionless,” he writes.

He instructs that police stations should be welcoming spaces — with seating, drinking water, newspapers, and courteous staff — where citizens are treated with respect. Victims of crime, Singh emphasises, must be accorded the same dignity an officer would show to a senior official. “Respect and empathy,” he notes, “are the foundation of credibility.”

A Calibrated Approach to Crime

In a nuanced classification of offenders, Singh categorises society into segments — from the vast law-abiding majority to those drawn into petty crimes due to poverty or ignorance, impulsive offenders acting out of emotion, and finally, the hardened criminals.

• The first group, he says, deserves rehabilitation through government schemes, not jail.

• The second group — those acting in anger or frustration — need healing and reconciliation rather than punishment.

• The third, the habitual offenders, “must face strict enforcement, confiscation of illegal earnings, and prison as their permanent address.”

Empathy Towards Youth and Women

Addressing the younger generations — Gen Y, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha — Singh advises his officers to “treat them as you would your own children.” He encourages understanding their lifestyles, aspirations, and anxieties, recognising that they represent “the future of India.”

He also places special emphasis on women and girls, noting their growing presence in public spaces and professional life. “They are half of our population and the backbone of society,” Singh writes. “Policing must be sensitive to their evolving needs and ensure they live and move without fear.”

A Call to Leadership and Accountability

Ending his letter with a resolute “Jai Hind,” Singh exhorts his senior officers to step out of their offices, engage with citizens, and lead from the front. “The system has allowed you to contribute to nation-building. Problems lie where the people are — and so must the police,” he writes.

Through these open letters, DGP O.P. Singh has signalled a significant cultural shift in Haryana Police — blending discipline with compassion, enforcement with empathy, and authority with accountability. It is, in his words, a call to “restore honour, justice, and humanity to the badge.”