Politicians and policemen are often treated with distrust mainly because of the seemingly corrupt system, but there are some icons in both fields who go against the flow and actually instill hope in people that not all is lost. One man who has inspired people through his work in the police force is Dr. H.T. Sangliana.
His Early Days and Initial Career
Dr. H.T. Sangliana was born on the 1st of July 1943 in Aizawl, the capital city of Mizoram. He did his Bachelor of Arts Honors in Economics from St. Edmund College in Shillong, Meghalaya. He became an officer of the Indian Police Services in 1967 and was posted to Karnataka. He served at various stations throughout the state and was known for his active participation in the 1978 Chikmagalur by-elections where the late Mrs. Indira Gandhi was also a candidate.
He played an instrumental role in the buildup to Veerappan’s encounter, and he assisted in capturing the dreaded sandalwood bandit. He held key positions in all possible departments of the Indian Police and was also the Special Commissioner of Police in Bangalore Metropolitan City area.
His Work and Achievements
Dr. H.T. Sangliana held positions in all possible departments in the police force and he was a decorated police officer known for his honesty and upright nature. He is known for booking a case on his wife because she used his official car for grocery shopping. Besides his participation in high profile and sensitive situations, he is also known for solving the tricky Khalilee disappearance case.
He was the key figure in the apprehension of Abdul Kareem Telgi in the Telgi Fake Stamp Paper case. He is a veteran from the 1972 Indo-Pak war and handled the sensitive issues in the North Eastern regions during his tenure in the SSB Battalion. He retired from the post of Director General of police after having served as the Commissioner of Bangalore Police.
Sangliana held positions in various standing and joint committees like one on Home Affairs, Defense, Home Security, South Western Railways, Ministry of Shipping, Roads and National Highways. He was a member of the North East University Court, and he’s written a few books too, like ‘A Guide to Mizo’, ‘Politics and People’, and ‘Dos and Don’ts of Security’.
He also served as an MP in the 14th Lok Sabha from BJP. He was however dismissed from the BJP after he voted in favor of the UPA government and then joined the Indian National Congress.
Sangliana could ever regain his Member of Parliament status after that, although he has received countless accolades and honors for his philanthropic work. He was nominated as one of the top 50 Indians who made a difference by Outlook Magazine and also as the Most Popular Public Servant by The Times of India. He has three films and three books to his name.
He has many service medals, making him one of the most decorated police officers. He has two honorary doctorate degrees and an honorary membership in Rotary International. He’s also been featured in a book on World Famous Police Officers.