By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The selection of a new DGP has turned out to be a nightmare for the State Government with one of the shortlisted candidates for the post of the next Meghalaya police chief, DK Pathak, declining the State Government’s offer to assume office.
In the absence of a full-fledged police chief there are chances that militant groups can advantage of the situation with Garo Hills becoming all the more vulnerable to attacks by various rebel groups. Earlier, though the Government had named senior police official, B Kezo, for the top post, he wanted to remain in Nagaland where he is posted as DG (Prisons). He is eying the post of DGP of Nagaland.
Pathak, ADG training, CRPF (1979 batch), currently serving in Delhi is one of the four remaining shortlisted candidates for the post.
Sources said that after the Government sent word to Pathak who is on a Central deputation, he declined the offer of the Government.
The remaining nominees shortlisted by the State Security Commission are Kulbir Krishan, DG (Prisons), (1976 batch), Director General of Home Guards from Assam, Subhash Goswami and Meghalaya Director General of Civil Defense and Home Guards, Prem Singh (both 1977 batch).
However, Prem Singh has already written to the Home department expressing his desire to opt out of the race.
With this latest development, only Krishan and Goswami are left in the original list from among the five shortlisted by the Security Commission.
Adding to the confusion is the overstay of present acting Meghalaya DGP, Rajiv Mehta, who is yet to assume office as the DG of Narcotics Control Bureau in Delhi though his joining date was November 10.
In the present context, the option before the Government is to convene another meeting of the Security Commission.
If there is further meeting of the Commission, the names of PJP Haneman (1979 batch), currently on Central deputation and AK Mathur (1980 batch) who is the Director, NEPA, are likely to be considered.
