Ashok Prasad takes over as DGP

Signal from Delhi: Rajendra would become DGP, Prasad DIB in 2014

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Jul 23: Resident of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh cadre IPS officer of 1979 batch, Ashok Prasad, today joined as Director General of Police in the country’s most sensitive state of Jammu & Kashmir. After B S Bedi, JN Saxena and Gurbachan Jagat, Prasad is the fourth IPS officer from outside the state who has been appointed as head of the Police force in J&K in the last 23 years of armed insurgency.

Early Times had exclusively reported in its issue of July 22 that, contrary to all speculations, Prasad would be taking over as J&K DGP in Srinagar at 1400 hours on July 23^rd. On his arrival in Srinagar in the forenoon today, Principal Secretary Home, B R Sharma, issued formal order of appointment in favour of Mr Prasad with approval of Chief Minister and Minister incharge Home, Omar Abdullah. Cabinet had already accorded sanction to Prasad’s appointment as DGP in the last week of May this year. After Kuldeep Khoda’s retirement on May 31^st, 2012, senior most of the IPS officers of J&K cadre, K Rajendra Kumar, had been officiating as DGP while holding substantive charge as additional DGP Armed and Law & Order.

On assuming charge as DGP, Prasad met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the latter’s residence in the afternoon and later in the evening drove all the way to Raj Bhawan to have a courtesy call on Governor N N Vohra. Sources said that Prasad expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister who promoted his appointment as DGP in recognition of his merit, seniority and J&K experience for years at Intelligence Bureau (IB). He also discussed security, insurgency and law and order related matters with the Governor and Chief Minister, separately.

At the time of his emerging as the top most choice for the prestigious post in J&K, Prasad had completed nearly a year as Additional Director IB in Kashmir. Previously, he had served a stint as Deputy Director of IB in Srinagar.

As exclusively reported in this newspaper, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s son-in-law, Ashok Patnaik, is shortly being appointed as Prasad’s successor in Kashmir. He would be holding the rank of Joint Director, Kashmir, in IB.

Highly placed authoritative sources disclosed to Early Times that that in the last about two months, Prasad had succeeded in convincing the UPA Government at the Centre that he would have to be elevated to the prestigious position of Director IB (DIB) before the Lok Sabha elections in 2014. He, according to sources, has made it clear to the union Ministry of Home Affairs as well as the Prime Minister’s Office that he would be serving as DGP in J&K only till March or April of 2014 as, among the four contenders, he had the first right to become DIB. Sources said that it was only after Prasad received assurance of his appointment as DIB in 2014 from the most responsible quarters that he agreed to join as DGP in J&K.

Prasad’s conditions have made it clear that he would be paving the way for the top most contender among IPS officers of J&K cadre, K Rajendra Kumar, in less than two years from now. Born on 21-01-1956 and inducted into IPS on 13-11-1979, Prasad is due to reach superannuation on 31-01-2016. Clearly, his ambition is to serve as DIB for the last two years of his service. Born on 24-09-1956 and inducted into IPS on 21-08-1984, K Rajendra Kumar is due to retire on 30-09-2016. On completing 30 years of IPS, he would become technically eligible for the post of DGP in January 2014. Thus, among all of his competitors, Rajendra would be the only choice for the post of DGP in 2014. His 1984 batch mate, P L Gupta, who is currently serving as Vigilance Commissioner in J&K, is due to retire from service on 31-08-2015.

In the afternoon today, Prasad was received at Police Headquarters with a ceremonial Guard of Hour. He took over from K Rajendra Kumar who introduced all the senior Police officers to the new DGP. All senior officers of J&K Police holding the rank of DIG and above were present on the occasion. After his joining, Prasad had an informal interaction with them.

While interacting with the officers he enquired from them about the functioning of their respective wings. Each officer gave a resume to the DGP about the different wings and he asked them to furnish the requirement, if any, to PHQ so that these could be fulfilled to enhance the working capabilities of the Police organization.  

Addressing the meeting, the DGP said that all ranks of the force form the Organization and every member of the Organization had to work with dedication making public service their motive. He said that Jammu and Kashmir Police had achieved many successes on different fronts during past 22 years and the pace of success would continue with the cooperation of the people.

He also said modernization of the police force would be his top priority. The DGP implored police personnel to develop people-friendly attitude apart from sticking to their duty with honesty and dedication. He also pledged to take forward the success of Jammu and Kashmir Police and appealed the people of the state to provide full support and cooperation to Police.

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