By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Ending all speculations, the State Government has finally appointed senior IPS officer Peter James Pyngrope Haneman as the new Director General of Police (DGP) of the State.
Haneman, a 1979 batch IPS officer, is currently on a Central deputation.
He is expected to take charge on July 8.
A Home department official said Haneman was selected by the State Security Commission headed by Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma.
The State Security Commission, formed by the Congress-led Government to primarily decide on matters related to the selection and appointment of the State DGP had earlier empanelled Director General, Civil Defence & Home Guards Kulbir Krishan (1976 batch), Director General of Police-cum-chairman of Assam Police Housing Corporation Limited, Subhash Goswami (1977 batch), Assam DGP Jayanto Narayan Choudhury (1978 batch), Spl. Director General, CRPF, J&K Zone, DK Pathak and PJP Haneman (both 1979 batch).
Among the five senior IPS officers empanelled by the SSC for appointment to the top post, the present Director General (Civil Defence & Home Guards and Prison) Kulbir Krishan (1976 batch) is the seniormost.
Krishan was appointed as full-fledged DGP on November 30 last year, but was removed prior to the February 23 State Assembly elections by the Election Commission after it received complaints against him from the State Government. Since then Meghalaya has not have a regular DGP. It may be reminded that the State Government in April attempted to pass the Meghalaya Police (Amendment) Bill, 2013, which would have empowered the Government to debar eligible State police officers, who are serving under Central and State governments in the rank and pay of Director General of Police, from becoming DGP of Meghalaya. However, the Bill did not the necessary assent from the State Governor. A winner of several commendations and medals including the President’s Medal for meritorious service, Haneman also holds the distinction of being the only officer of his cadre to have served in all the three hill regions of the state – Khasi, Jaintia and Garo. He has also had extensive tenure in Assam besides foreign stints in Brussels and Kathmandu.