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Chandigarh: Senior IPS officer Ajay Singhal on Thursday assumed charge as the 42nd Director General of Police (DGP) and Head of Police Force (HoPF) of Haryana, marking a new chapter for the state’s police leadership. A 1992-batch officer, Singhal took over the baton from his predecessor O. P. Singh, who formally handed over charge.

Singhal’s father, Om Prakash Singhal, was present at the police headquarters as he took the chair of the state’s top cop—an emotional moment underscoring the personal milestone.

Thanking Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini for reposing faith in him, Singhal said, “I will do my best to follow his directions and live up to the expectations of the people of Haryana.”

Policing Has Evolved Five Times Since 1992: Singhal

Sharing his perspective on the changing nature of policing, the new DGP said his understanding of the profession has evolved repeatedly since he joined service in 1992.

“First came the Internet, then mobile phones. Criminals became smarter, and so did policing. Then smartphones arrived, followed by apps. Now, Artificial Intelligence is the new challenge,” Singhal said. He added that Haryana Police has successfully dealt with terrorism, crime control and complex law-and-order situations over the decades, and will continue to adapt to emerging threats.

Zero Tolerance on Corruption

Responding to queries on corruption, Singhal referred to a statement issued a day earlier by the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SV&ACB), which revealed that the police department saw the highest number of corruption-related actions in 2025.

As many as 44 police personnel were proceeded against during the year, compared to 24 in the revenue department and seven in Urban Local Bodies.
“We are alert—that’s why police personnel are being caught. Corruption exists in other departments as well, but the police have more public-facing interactions. Rotten apples will be weeded out, and strict action will be taken as per the law,” Singhal asserted.

Staff Shortage and Recruitment Drive

Highlighting workforce challenges, Singhal said Haryana Police is currently short of 23,189 personnel, against a sanctioned strength of 79,063—nearly 29.3% overall vacancy. Vacancies are particularly acute at the lower levels, with 50.5% posts of Head Constables and 27.3% of Constables lying vacant.

To address this, he said the department is recruiting over 5,000 personnel, including 1,500 women, with further recruitment to be carried out in phases. “You cannot fill all vacancies at once. Recruitment has to be matched with training capacity,” he explained.

New Initiatives: From ‘Madadgar Police’ to Village Adoption

Outlining his priorities, Singhal said technology would be leveraged to identify crime hotspots, particularly crimes against women and atrocities against the Scheduled Castes, with a similar data-driven approach to be adopted for cybercrime.

He announced the launch of an initiative called ‘Madadgar Police’ (May I Help You), aimed at assisting citizens at night—during medical emergencies, vehicle breakdowns, fuel shortages or other urgent situations while travelling.

In a welfare-focused move, Singhal said police personnel would receive financial assistance for their children’s weddings, and a banquet hall would be constructed in police lines for such events.

He also proposed that police stations adopt villages. “If there are 400 police stations, each can adopt a village and take care of needs ranging from sanitation to crime control,” he said.

Extortion, Infiltration and Mental Health

On the rising menace of extortion calls, Singhal struck a tough note. “Such calls are meant to spread terror. No one involved will be spared, even if they are operating from abroad. We will extradite them.”

He acknowledged the intense work pressure faced by police personnel, saying mental health often becomes “collateral damage” in policing. To address this, he said he is working towards mandatory weekly off days and regular health check-ups for personnel aged 35 or older. On the issue of Bangladeshi infiltrators, Singhal termed it a serious challenge, adding that multiple agencies are working together to collect intelligence and act on inputs.

Crime Control and Law & Order

Singhal said Operation ‘Muskaan’ to trace missing persons will continue with renewed focus. He revealed that the state has nearly 10,000 absconding criminals, including proclaimed offenders and bail jumpers, who will be systematically tracked down.

Dismissing Opposition allegations of poor law and order, the new DGP said, “Had there been poor law and order, such large investments would not have come to Haryana.” With a blend of technology-driven strategies, welfare measures for personnel and a firm stance on crime, Ajay Singhal’s tenure is expected to shape Haryana Police’s approach to emerging security and governance challenges in the years ahead.