Amid ethnic tension in the state, senior IPS officer Rajiv Singh has been given charge of the post of Director General of Police (DGP) in Manipur. He replaces P Doungel, who has been transferred to the post of OSD (Home), according to an official order by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Singh is a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre. "The Governor of Manipur is also pleased to order that Shri Rajiv Singh, IPS (TR: 93) should take charge of the post of DGP, Manipur from Shri P. Doungel, IPS (MA:87) immediately upon joining the State Government," the order read. #JUSTIN: IPS Rajiv Singh has been appointed as DGP- Manipur & head of police. @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/FXLr7mj0Yb — Mahender Singh Manral (@mahendermanral) June 1, 2023 On Wednesday, Singh had been sent to Manipur on inter-cadre deputation for three years. “The undersigned is directed to refer to the subject cited above and to convey the approval of Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for Inter-cadre deputation of Shri Rajiv Singh, IPS (TR:93), presently working as IG, CRPF, from Tripura cadre to Manipur cadre for a period of three years from the date of joining, in relaxation of the policy as a special case in public interest,” the order said. The transfer comes at a time Manipur is seeing ethnic conflict since violence broke out in the state on May 3, the toll of which has climbed to 80. The state witnessed a sudden spurt in clashes and firing between militants and security forces on Sunday, after a relative lull for over a fortnight. Ethnic violence first broke out in Manipur after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The violence was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.
