New J-K DGP soon,3 in shortlist

Jammu and Kashmir could get a new police chief soon. With the National Conference-Congress Government in the state not too keen to persist....

Jammu and Kashmir could get a new police chief soon. With the National Conference-Congress Government in the state not too keen to persist with the present DGP,1974 batch IPS officer Kuldeep Khuda,after he completes two years in the post in mid-July,the Union Ministry of Home Affairs MHA has drawn up a panel of three names for the post.

It is also learnt that Special Secretary,Internal Security,MHA,Raman Srivastava is all set to be the next chief of the Border Security Force. A 1973-batch IPS officer of the Kerala cadre,Srivastava is likely to take over as DG,BSF,when the current incumbent M L Kumawat retires at the end of July.

All three officers being considered for the post of J-K DGP have operational experience,but none belong to the state cadre. Sources told The Indian Express that the state Government was consulted while finalising the panel.

The three officers in the fray are 1975-batch Madhya Pradesh cadre officer Vijay Raman,1974-batch Tamil Nadu cadre officer Vijay Kumar and Karamvir Singh,a 1975 batch officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. While Raman and Karamvir are at present posted as Additional DGs in the CRPF,Kumar is Director of the National Police Academy in Hyderabad.

Incidentally,Kumar is also being considered for the post of Delhi Police Commissioner. There are indications that present Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal could take the place of Srivastava in the MHA.

Sources said Raman is the front-runner for the post of J-K DGP due to his vast experience in the state as Inspector General IG,Jammu frontier,BSF,IG,Kashmir Frontier,and IG Security,J-K.

Khuda had been appointed DGP on July 17,2007 by the previous government. After it came to power,the Omar Abdullah Government chose to continue with him. Sources said Khuda is also being considered for posting with one of the Central police organisations.

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It is also learnt that the MHA is yet to take a final decision on the appointment of Jamp;K cadre IPS officer P S Gill as DGP,Punjab. The state Cabinet on Thursday cleared an ordinance to amend the Punjab Police Act,2007 to facilitate the appointment of a non-state cadre IPS officer as state police chief. We will take a final decision soon, said a MHA functionary.