Anupama Shenoy is Lady Singham, say people who know her
FollowThe controversy around Deputy Superintendent of Police Anupama Shenoy took an unexpected turn when she resigned from her job on Saturday, following months of debate over her transfer.
The fiasco involving Shenoy began earlier this year when she allegedly kept Karnataka Labour Minister PT Parameshwar Naik's phone call on hold. The offended minister claimed to have ordered Shenoy's transfer because she didn't take his call.
It is kind of a shock to know that someone like her gave up so quickly. There is something fishy about this," said Deepthi Rani, Shenoy's college friend
However, due to public demand, the government cancelled the order and she continued her service in Kudligi police sub-division.
Prior to her resignation, Shenoy was working on a crackdown on liquor and sand mafia in her area, which led to protests in front of her office.
"We received her resignation letter on the evening of June 4. Earlier that morning, she handed over the letter to one of her staff members, directing him to forward it to the office of Superintendent of Police (SP). She resigned citing personal reasons. We have not heard from her since," said Ballari SP R Chetan.
When asked, Chetan refused to comment on Shenoy's work history.
Hailing from the tiny village of Phaniyuru in Udupi district, Anupama was known to be an independent and brave woman even before she joined the police force.
After completing her education from St Aloysius College, she aspired to be an IPS officer. She strongly believed that poverty is no hindrance to success and proved it by becoming the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) posted in Ballari district.
Anupama took after her father who taught her to be self-reliant and continued running his canteen business despite his daughter’s successful police career.
“I am happy that the people of Ballari are happy with my daughter’s work. They are protesting against the government for transferring her to Vijayapura. I am proud to be her father,” said Radhakrishna Shenoy.
The "Lady Singham" is remembered as a kind and helpful person by her college friends. "She has been outspoken and fearless from the time I have known her in college. She was the secretary of the student council and was like an agony aunt to us. It is kind of a shock to know that someone like her gave up so quickly. There is something fishy about this," said Deepthi Rani, Shenoy's friend.
Shenoy's resignation, however, doesn't come as a surprise to the other members of the police force. "The political involvement in the department is responsible for the unnecessary transfers of police officers. If we try to change the system in our department by being honest, we are targeted. How do we do our job sincerely if hard-working cops are tortured for the work they do?" said a source in the police department.
He added, "Sometimes, we have to pay lakhs of rupees to seniors and politicians for getting transferred to a police station of our choice"
