First Day in the Field

First Day in the Field as an IPS Probationer in Bihar 

I can never forget my #FirstDay in the Field (5th January, 2005) as an IPS Probationer. The times were quite turbulent with Assembly elections just round the corner, when I had reported on 26th December, 2004, at the Police Headquarters in Patna for further field training after having completed the first phase of Compulsory Training at the SVP National Police Academy, Hyderabad.

After meeting the Senior Officers at the Police Headquarters in Patna for about a week, I reached Bhagalpur on the night of 4th January, 2005. My first day in the Field was on 5th January, 2005, when I was being introduced to and briefed about various learning aspects of Field training by the then SP, Bhagalpur. The weather was quite cold and pleasant, and I was mentally preparing for properly settling down in Bhagalpur for the next few months.

After moving around several offices in the day and calling on district officials, I was sitting in the residential office with the SP at around 6.00 p.m. We were having a general discussion about various topics like my educational background etc., when I noticed that a phone call suddenly changed the atmosphere. The SP almost screamed and got up from his chair in a state of shock. Within seconds I learnt that the SP, Munger (neighbouring district) had been killed in a Landmine blast somewhere in the forest near Bheembandh. As the news spread around, there was a terrible sense of gloom in all eyes.

Along with the IG and DIG, I and the SP moved for Munger Police Line immediately afterwards. All the way various thoughts kept erupting in my mind. We reached Munger around 9.30 p.m. and stayed all night in the Police Line Office. New to the field, I was watching the happenings around. Never had I thought of such an experience on the very first day in the field. My training had begun on a very sad note and the memories of the night and the following day still remain. 

On the 6th morning, we visited the spot where the incident had taken place, and I was pained to see the shoulder badge of the IPS lying on the ground amidst the bushes where the gypsy was seen hanging on a tree. 

I had visited Bheembandh for the first time in January, 1992 as a schoolchild along with my parents and others from the locality on a family picnic. Then, we had tremendously enjoyed the adventures in the forests having hot springs. As a child I had roamed around the forest streams which had continuously moving hot water. A part of the hot streams had been utilised in beautifully tiled fresh and clean swimming pools near a Forest Guest House. We had camped around the beautiful surroundings of the guest house and thoroughly enjoyed playing games with friends in and around the hot water pools. At that time, the place was known only for wildlife and not for Maoist activities. But having left the place with very pleasant memories in 1992, never did I know that my next visit years later would be on such a sad occasion.

The day (6th January, 2005) was spent in meetings over the plan for future operations in the continuing state of confusion as the new SP of Munger was yet to be posted.

Pictures : At the PS in Kharagpur after the Incident, At the Munger Police Line in the morning of 6th January, 2005

We came back to Bhagalpur in the late night of 6th/7th January and I could read the newspaper only on the next morning, from which I preserved certain memories. The memories still remain in the mind and make me think vigorously at times.

This Gypsy was seen hanging after the Blast

Sharing some News Reports from the Hindustan dated 7th January, 2005 (Bhagalpur edition), which I preserved after reaching Bhagalpur. They describe the #FirstDay in the Field quite well...