By Our Special Correspondent
Shillong: The State Government has been left red-faced after recommending the name of B Kezo, for the post of Director General of Police (DGP) after he turned down the offer.
Kezo, a 1978 batch IPS officer, is unwilling to return to Shillong and take over the mantle of DGP from his predecessor N Ramachandran.
The State Government had earlier recommended his name to the Union Home Ministry from the list of five officers selected by the State Security Commission (SSC) for the post of DGP.
Kezo has opted to remain in Nagaland. The Government of Nagaland conveyed this message to its counterpart in Meghalaya on Saturday. He has been on deputation (cadre transfer) to Nagaland since May 2012.
Before the meeting of the State Selection Commission, the Government of Meghalaya had sought Kezo’s views about whether he would be willing to join as the DGP here. According to Government sources, Kezo had shown his willingness to be repatriated to Meghalaya. But he became tentative after the official notification came.
“Mr Kezo is unable to decide whether or not to join as the DGP here. This dilly-dally has gone on for a whole week. He is keeping the Government on tenterhooks. With this attitude how can he be the team leader? Suppose he orders an operation against a militant group today and does a U-turn the next day how can the Police work in such circumstances? ” a police official remarked.
Kezo’s vacillation has embarrassed the Government of Meghalaya. On Saturday (Nov 3) it is learnt that the Chief Secretary of Nagaland had written a DO letter to his counterpart here that Kezo cannot be spared. The letter has apparently been faxed to the Meghalaya CM who is currently in Delhi.
Meanwhile the delay in filling up the DGP’s post has created problems for Addl DGP, Rajiv Mehta who is currently holding the fort after outgoing DGP, N Ramchandran retired on October 31. Mehta is supposed to take over as Director, Narcotics Control Bureau at the Centre. He was supposed to join sometime in October but asked for more time. If Mehta does not join by November 10 he is likely to forfeit that job and will be debarred from future central appointments in his remaining career, sources said.
Kezo’s indecision has also affected others down the line. PJP Haneman a 1979 batch IPS officer who is next in line of seniority after DK Pathak (also of the 1979 batch), was not included in the list prepared by the State Selection Commission as they already had five names in order of seniority. Earlier, on October 18, five names were shortlisted by the SSC for filling up the post of DGP. They included DGP (Prisons) Kulbir Krishan, who is the senior most (1976 batch) Following him is Subash Goswami (1977 batch), Prem Singh ( 1977 batch), B Kezo (1978 batch) and D K Pathak (1979 batch). Subash Goswami and DK Pathak have never served in Meghalaya.