Book on Vijay Raman, Pan Singh Tomar encounter fame, unveiled

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Vijay Raman’s life accounts come in ‘Did I Really Do All this’

By Raisina Correspondent

New Delhi, September 20: Memories of former IPS officer Vijay Raman’s life in service came alive at a book launch in the national capital on Friday. Famed for the encounter of Pan Singh Tomar, Raman’s biographical accounts have been brought in the book – Did I Really Do All This?

The book was launched by Delhi’s former lieutenant governor Najib Jung, former chief of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) KK Mohammed, and others. The book launch was followed by a panel discussion in which Raman’s colleagues shared their memories.

Former IPS officer Ravi Gupta credited Raman for surrenders of decoits of Chambal after the encounter of Pan Singh Tomar. “The encounter of Tomar sent out a big message to the decoits in the ravines of Chambal that they no more could rule the terrain safely,” said Gupta.

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The former IPS officer also recalled that the encounter of Tomar, a former army jawan, filled the decoits with dread that they too would meet the same fate. “Tomar’s encounter led to the surrender of several other decoits,” added Gupta.

Raman faced the “dharamshankat (dilemma)” in service when he led his team of the police in the Chambar terrain of Madhya Pradesh. “Raman’s team of police personnel had detained dreaded decoit Devi Singh. His subordinates wated the decoit to be killed in an encounter. But Raman took the lawful course,” added Gupta.

Once the decoit was out of the jail, he killed the informer and his family. “This episode disturbed Raman, for he had not accepted the pleas of subordinates to kill Devi Singh in an encounter,” added Gupta.

Mohammed recalled support of Raman in the restoration of temples in the Chambal terrain. “I sought an appointment with Raman Sir to get the permission of decoits for the restoration of the Bateshwar temples in the Chambal area. He worked out arrangements that I could carry out the restoration of the temples which had been in ruins,” recalled Mohammed.

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Raman was a son of a World War II veteran from Kerala. He had joined the Indian Police Service in 1975, and in a career span of 35 years, distinguished himself as an outstanding and upright officer, winning accolades for bravery, courage and dedication to duty.

Raman began his illustrious innings in 1976 as an ASP, Dabra, in the dangerous dacoity area of Chambal. As Additional SP, Gwalior, his deft handling of the student agitation as well as the lawyer’s agitation earned him recognition.

He was posted in 1980 as SP of Bhind, considered the toughest district assignment, also the hotbed of several dreaded dacoits in the rugged ravines of Chambal. In 1981, having successfully liquidated the notorious dacoit, Pan Singh Tomar and his 9-member gang in a 14-hour dusk to dawn encounter, in the dacoit infested Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh as Superintendent of Police, he was awarded the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry.

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His friends recalled Raman’s qualities of leadership, building a network of informers and high interpersonal skills. With his eye firmly on the known dacoits of the time, he initiated joint operations with the Uttar Pradesh police, successfully engineering the surrender of Phoolan Devi and Malkhan Singh.

As an IG (P) Chambal in 1999, he convinced dacoit Raju Kushwaha to surrender. He played a crucial role in the aftermath of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy in 1984.

Raman also worked in the Special Protection Group. He was given the charge of security and protection of India’s Prime Minister of the time. He worked with four of them – Rajiv Gandhi, V.P. Singh, Chandra Shekhar and P.V Narsimha Rao.

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In December 1992, Raman broke the Guinness World Record for Circumnavigating the World in 39 Days 7 hours and 55 minutes driving an Indian Car.

In 1997, upon an out of turn promotion as IG, CM Security & IG Security, he successfully established the Special Security Group for the CM of J&K. He also oversaw the multi-crore project of fencing and flood-lighting the International Border with Pakistan in Jammu region.

Raman was also in action against terrorism in the Kashmir valley. In one of the challenging and successful anti-militancy operations in J&K, he led the 10-hour nail-biting encounter in Srinagar to eliminate Gazi Baba, the dreaded terrorist and mastermind behind the Parliament attacks.

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