Sonia Narang is an IPS Officer from Karnataka, Â known for her hard stand against Corruption. She has been the target of political forces both from Ruling and Opposition parties in Karnataka.
Recently, she dared to take on the Karnataka Chief Minister K. Siddaramaiah for naming her as one of the accused in the Rs 16,000 crore mining scam on the floor of the Karnataka Assembly.
Sonia Narang
Defying all conventions, she openly issued statement in the media asking a thorough enquiry in the matter. Â “This is with reference to the news item, which highlighted that the honourable CM has stated in the legislative assembly that I have helped illegal miners. In this connection, I would like to strongly refute the allegation that I have helped illegal mining. I have never worked in the areas where illegal mining was being done, be it Bellary, Chitradurga or any other such place. So where is the question of helping or encouraging illegal mining? Nor have I worked in the mining department ever”, said Sonia in a statement.
She is a 1999 batch IPS officer and  presently a Commandant in Karnataka State Reserve Police. Earlier she was posted as DCP Bangalore. She is the Wife of IPS Officer Ganesh Kumar who is posted as SSP of Gaya in Bihar.
She was born and brought up in Chandigarh. Her father A N Narang retired as a deputy superintendent of police. She excelled in studies in school and college. A North Zone topper in the 12th and a gold medalist in BA (hon), she secured the Punjab University Merit Scholarship and national scholarship from the HRD ministry for three years. She also has a Master’s degree in Sociology through distance education.
With her eyes set on the coveted Indian Police Service, she went on to fulfil her father’s dream, who was also a civil servant. “When I took up IPS, I knew that it would be a 24X7 kind of work, but I am very happy,†she says. “A police officer is the first person that someone in distress will contact. It gives you an opportunity to serve the society.â€
During a recent monsoon season, there were floods in Belgaum, following which Narang, who was the SP then, along with her team was involved in the rescue efforts. “From constables to SPs, we rose to the occasion and ensured that minimal damage was caused. While we had to evacuate the village before it started flooding, in some areas, people were not willing to move out,†recounts Narang. Finally, they had to persuade the public explaining the impending disaster and take them to safety. In September, 2010, Narang was promoted as DCP-Bangalore South Division.
Her husband Ganesh Kumar is currently serving as SP in Motihari district of Bihar and the two are only able to meet once in a few months. Apart from cracking down on crime in the city, her priority nowadays is to use her vacations to spend quality time with her son and husband.
Being a woman IPS officer is not easy, admits Narang. “As a woman and a police officer, I have many responsibilities — of being a mother, a wife, a daughter, a daughter-in-law and with the same spirit, I also have to prove that I am a responsible police officer,†she explains.