Julio Francis Ribeiro
Encyclopedia
Julio Francis Ribeiro is a retired India
n police officer
and civil servant.
He held increasingly responsible positions during his career, and led the Punjab Police
during part of the Punjab insurgency
periods.
In 1987, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan
, India's third highest civilian
award for his services.
Since retirement
, he has served on corporate boards of directors
and performed social work
.
in 1953 and rose to be the Commissioner of Mumbai
Police from 1982 to 1985.
He was promoted to Director General of Central Reserve Police Force
, then to Director General Police of Gujarat.
Ribeiro served as Director General of Punjab Police during its worst years of terrorism in Punjab.
The New York Times
reported that in the 1980s, Ribeiro led the Punjab police in a "ferocious crackdown" on Sikh militants, in a policy christened "bullet for bullet" by Arun Nehru
.
He held positions such as Special Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Adviser to the Governor of Punjab.
Ribeiro also served as India
n Ambassador
to Romania
from 1989 until 1993.
In August 1991, Ribeiro was attacked and wounded in a Bucharest
assassination attempt by gunmen identified as Punjab
i Sikhs.
In an April 2006 interview with The Tribune
, Julio Ribeiro explained that "It has been a role reversal for me... from fighting militants to fighting the corrupt administration."
He went on to explain that while he had been offered positions in government, "Fighting with guns was no longer my cup of tea; and I wanted to work for the people of my city, Mumbai. I wanted to be useful to lower socio-economic classes, and thus decided to work at the grass roots level."
He also serves as non-executive Director to Glenmark Pharmaceuticals
and as a Director of IIT Corporate Services Ltd.
(KCF) later claimed responsibility of this attack. KCF leader Labh Singh
allegedly led the assassination attempt.
n Ambassador
to Romania
was attacked and wounded in a Bucharest
assassination attempt by gunmen identified as Punjab
i Sikhs.
, India.
Ribeiro titled his autobiography
"Bullet for Bullet: My Life as a Police Officer."
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
and civil servant.
He held increasingly responsible positions during his career, and led the Punjab Police
Punjab Police
Punjab Police may refer to:* Punjab Police , which operates in the Indian state of Punjab* Punjab Police , which operates in the Pakistani province of Punjab...
during part of the Punjab insurgency
Punjab insurgency
The insurgency in the Indian state of Punjab originated in the late 1970s. The roots of the insurgency were very complex.-Punjabi Suba Movement:In the 1950s and 1960s, linguistic issues in India caused civil disorder when the central government declared Hindi as the national language of India...
periods.
In 1987, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
, India's third highest civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
award for his services.
Since retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
, he has served on corporate boards of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
and performed social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
.
Career
Ribeiro joined the Indian Police ServiceIndian Police Service
The Indian Police Service , simply known as Indian Police or IPS, is one of the three All India Services of the Government of India...
in 1953 and rose to be the Commissioner of Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
Police from 1982 to 1985.
He was promoted to Director General of Central Reserve Police Force
Central Reserve Police Force
The Central Reserve Police Force also known as CRPF is the largest of India's Central Armed Police Forces. It functions under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India. The CRPF's primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain...
, then to Director General Police of Gujarat.
Ribeiro served as Director General of Punjab Police during its worst years of terrorism in Punjab.
The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
reported that in the 1980s, Ribeiro led the Punjab police in a "ferocious crackdown" on Sikh militants, in a policy christened "bullet for bullet" by Arun Nehru
Arun Nehru
Arun Nehru is an Indian politician and columnist. In the 1980s he was the chief strategist for his cousin Rajiv Gandhi and a minister in his government, but owing to ideological differences defected with V.P. Singh to the Janata Dal. Presently he is politically more close to BJP...
.
He held positions such as Special Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Adviser to the Governor of Punjab.
Ribeiro also served as India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
from 1989 until 1993.
In August 1991, Ribeiro was attacked and wounded in a Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
assassination attempt by gunmen identified as Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
i Sikhs.
In an April 2006 interview with The Tribune
The Tribune
The Tribune is an Indian English-language daily newspaper published from Chandigarh, New Delhi, Jalandhar, Dehradun and Bathinda. It was founded on 2 February 1881, in Lahore , by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising five eminent persons as...
, Julio Ribeiro explained that "It has been a role reversal for me... from fighting militants to fighting the corrupt administration."
He went on to explain that while he had been offered positions in government, "Fighting with guns was no longer my cup of tea; and I wanted to work for the people of my city, Mumbai. I wanted to be useful to lower socio-economic classes, and thus decided to work at the grass roots level."
He also serves as non-executive Director to Glenmark Pharmaceuticals
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals is one of the leading pharmaceutical company headquarteredin Mumbai, India. It manufactures and markets generic formulation products and active pharmaceutical ingredients , both in the domestic and international markets...
and as a Director of IIT Corporate Services Ltd.
1986 assassination attempt
In the early morning of October 3, 1986, 6 men in police disguise, identified in the press as Sikh militants attacked Ribeiro inside the headquarters of Punjab Police in the city of Jalandhar, Punjab, India. One guard was killed. Ribeiro, his wife, and four other police and paramilitary officers were injured. Riberio's wound was minor, but his wife was hospitalized. All six attackers escaped in a waiting truck. The Khalistan Commando ForceKhalistan Commando Force
The Khalistan Commando Force or KCF is a private paramilitary organization operating in the Indian state of Punjab. According to the US State Department, and the Assistant Inspector General of the Punjab Police Intelligence Division, the KCF was responsible for the deaths of thousands in India,...
(KCF) later claimed responsibility of this attack. KCF leader Labh Singh
Labh Singh
Sukhdev Singh , best known as Labh Singh and also known as Sukha Sipahi and General Labh Singh, was a former Punjab police officer who took command of the Khalistan Commando Force after its first leader, Manbir Singh Chaheru, was arrested in 1986.He was an associate of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale...
allegedly led the assassination attempt.
1991 assassination attempt
In August 1991, Ribeiro, then IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
was attacked and wounded in a Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
assassination attempt by gunmen identified as Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
i Sikhs.
Personal life
Julio Ribeiro is married to Melba Ribeiro, and has two daughters Nina and Anna, and lives in MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, India.
Ribeiro titled his autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
"Bullet for Bullet: My Life as a Police Officer."