By P.T. Bopanna
The newly appointed Kodagu (Coorg) superintendent of police Kshama Mishra (in picture), a 2016 batch IPS officer, has taken her job seriously.
The people of Kodagu were taken by surprise by the recent transfer of Dr Suman D. Pennekar, a sincere and hardworking head of Kodagu police.
The most likable quality of Suman was her simplicity and commitment to her work. Her tenure as SP saw Kodagu witness unprecedented floods and landslides. She led the rescue efforts from the front during the 2018 floods which devastated vast areas resulting in loss of lives and damage to property.
Ideally, the government should have continued Suman for a year more as head of Kodagu police as the district had faced two consecutive years of landslides and flooding as well as on account of the pandemic which involves enforcing social distancing regulations.
However, the government in its wisdom, transferred Suman and posted another lady IPS officer Kshama Mishra in her place.
It should go to her credit, Kshama did not waste any time and got busy visiting areas which had faced rain havoc in the past two years to get acquainted with the situation on the ground.
On Wednesday, Kshama accompanied the DC Annies Joy to inspect areas affected by the recent landslips and blockage of roads between Talacauvery and Bhagamandala. Kshama has proved that she is a proactive officer and not confined to her desk.
Kodagu is fortunate to have a bunch of women officers at the helm who are performing as good, or even better than their male counterparts.