An exchange of ideas

Sridhar Challa, the Inspector of Gopalpuram Police Station, is currently participating in the International Visitors’ Leadership Programme (IVLP), a multi-regional professional exchange programme conducted by the US Department of State. The theme for the programme was, “Towards a More Safe and Secure World Transnational Crime Issues”. Sridhar Challa and an IPS officer from Arunachal Pradesh were among the 21 participants of the three-week programme.

Speaking about his nomination, he said, “When I was the Inspector of Nampally Police Station, I identified and cracked several cases related to fake visas, fake passports, illegal immigration and human trafficking. And so, the US Consulate General in Hyderabad has nominated me to participate in this programme. It focuses on transnational crimes and burning international issues such as drug trafficking, organised transnational crime, money laundering, and the diversion of money to terrorist outfits.”

Having studied the law enforcement system of the USA, the Inspector said that it was not very different from the Indian system. “The structure and hierarchy of the federal police are different, but the way they investigate is similar to what we do in India detect human trafficking, rescue victims, and rehabilitate them,” he said.

Sridhar had learnt about the protocols followed by various police departments, and gained insight into the strategies employed globally in policing. “It was a great experience. I learnt about how the US police coordinate with various departments while investigating cases. I also had the opportunity to meet officers from other countries and exchange ideas with them. This will help me improve my approach to cases.”