A recent news headline saw the dismissal of Balveer Singh, a young Indian Police Service (IPS) officer who was known as the ‘tooth-clenching officer’. According to police sources, Balveer Singh hails from Uttar Pradesh, but his family migrated to Rajasthan, where he completed his B.Tech from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mumbai. After working for two years as an engineer at Indian Oil, he began his civil services training in 2020.
Ten months after being appointed as a Tamil Nadu cadre IPS officer, Balveer Singh was posted as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Ramanathapuram, and then to Ambasamudram in September 2022. However, being unfamiliar with Tamil, he had to rely on subordinates for administrative details. During his time in Ambasamudram, he was advised to use a ‘tooth extraction remedy’, which he applied to some people in the area, causing a conflict with a caste representative who was stopped from visiting a temple after 6 pm, which led to a violent incident resulting in Balveer Singh’s suspension.
Despite this issue, Balveer Singh was described as a competent officer who had successfully tackled crime in the area, resulting in many arrests and legal action. He was on track for a promotion to SP, but his dismissal has thrown his future in jeopardy. The police top brass is reportedly reluctant to lose a promising young officer, and many in the area have praised his actions, highlighting that he had helped keep the peace in the district, which did not see many cases of drug trafficking and murder during his tenure.
Regarding Balveer Singh, who served as ASP in Ambasamudram sub-division, Tirunelveli district, police sources said:
Balveer Singh is a native of the state of UP. His father is a retired army man. Balveer Singh’s family migrated to Rajasthan. Balveer Singh completed his B.Tech from IIT, Mumbai.
Worked for two years as an engineer in ‘Indian Oil’. In 2020, he went for Civil Services training.
10 months
Balveer Singh, appointed as Tamil Nadu cadre IPS officer, was posted as ASP in Ramanathapuram 10 months ago. He was transferred to Ambasamudram on 17th September 2022. Not fully knowing Tamil, he relied on inspectors and sub-inspectors to know administrative details. It was at that time that Balveer Singh was told about the ‘tooth extraction remedy’.
After that, he did that ‘cure’ to some people in Ambasamudram area. There was a conflict between Balveer Singh and a certain caste representative of that area regarding going to the Sorimuthu Ayyanar temple.
fought
Balveer Singh refused to allow him to go there after 6:00 PM. The representative of the people mobilized the people and fought against it. To drive them away, they were beaten. At this time, it was disputed that two men of that particular caste were subjected to the ‘tooth-pulling remedy’. A protest broke out and Balveer Singh was ‘suspended’.
Balveer Singh was one of the main people who came up with the ‘tooth pulling’ idea and belonged to another community of the area. After Balveer Singh took over as ASP, Ambasamudram, there was no major law and order problem in the area.
Solved the problem
Apart from the ‘teeth gnashing’ issue, he has acted gracefully. Whatever the problem is within his police area, within minutes of getting the information, he goes there and solves the problem.
There are many people in Ambasamudra to certify Balveer Singh’s activities as he made it a place where crimes like drug trafficking and murder did not happen and arrested many people involved in criminal cases and took legal action.
The police top brass is very reluctant to suspend him as he is a promising young police officer. After a political crisis, he was suspended.
He has completed his one-year training in a month and is ready to be promoted as SP. In the history of Tamil Nadu Police, no young police officer has been subjected to such punishment, sources said. — Our Correspondent —