THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The change of guard at the Kollam city Police commissionerate in Kerala last week was a special affair for the Indian Police Service (IPS) fraternity.
For, in an extremely rare instance, incumbent city police chief Satheesh Bino made way for his wife Ajeetha Begum as successor. Divided into two police districts — city and rural — the revenue district of Kollam had been under ‘Satheesh-Ajeetha’ control for a few months last year. While Satheesh took over as Kollam city police commissioner in June last year, Ajeetha served as Kollam rural superintendent of police. Then Ajeetha took a break and went on maternity leave. Ajeetha, who is known for her bold and judicious approach to work, resumed duty on Thursday. And just as soon, took charge as Kollam police commissioner from her husband as he had been transferred as superintendent of police for the neighbouring district of Pathanamthitta.
Listing her priorities after assuming charge as commissioner, Ajeetha told TOI: “Addressing issues faced by women and children, curbing road accidents in Kollam cit,y and putting an end to the growing drug menace will be my top priorities.” During his stint as commissioner, Satheesh had launched a successful campaign, ‘Safe Kollam’, to curb the drug menace. Describing this as the best initiative taken by her husband, Ajeetha said she would continue the campaign.

The star IPS couple is from the 2008 batch. While Ajeetha is from Coimbatore, Satheesh is from Kanyakumari district. Though they served in the Jammu & Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh cadres initially, both were brought to the Kerala cadre a year after they tied the knot in 2011. The couple has two children — a son and a daughter.