The Karnataka state government on 2. May.2011, Monday effected a change at the helm of city police by appointing Beladamadu Gangadhar Jyothiprakash Mirji as Bangalore police commissioner.

Mirji took over from Shankar M Bidari, who was made the additional director-general of police (railways), a post left vacant by Mirji.

Soon after assuming the office of the city police commissioner, Mirji said he wanted the force to work round-the-clock to ensure peace and tranquillity, and also meet the expectations of the citizens.

"I will continue the good work done by my predecessor," he said.
The new commissioner was previously the chief of state police intelligence for two years before he was transferred as the ADGP (railways). His transfer from intelligence had then raised many an eyebrow since it was carried out when the ruling BJP was facing dissidence from within its ranks.

A 1982-batch Indian Police Service officer from Karnataka, Mirji had headed the special task force (STF) constituted to track down the dreaded forest brigand, KM Veerappan.

A year after he joined the STF, the Tamil Nadu police gunned down the criminal at Dharmapuri on October 18, 2004. He was awarded the president's Vishisht Seva Medal in 2008.

Mirji had earned his master's degree in business administration (MBA) from an Australian university. Known to be an efficient administrator, Mirji has been friendly and transparent in functioning. He seldom blew his own trumpet, which perhaps explains the absence of his several professional achievements in his biodata.

"My work is an open book; let others judge it," a police officer close to Mirji quoted him as saying quite often.

 Source: 3. May. 2011, DNA