Govt yet to decide on Meghalaya Police in-charge

SHILLONG: The current state DGP, SB Singh, is set to retire on Tuesday but there is no word from the government on who would be given the temporary charge to lead Meghalaya Police.
As per the July 3 Supreme Court order, the state government had sent names of senior police officers for consideration by UPSC but the commission has a few queries, including the need to send the annual confidential reports of the candidates.
The Supreme Court had also banned appointment of any acting DGP in the state.
However, it was learnt that a hearing took place in the apex court on Monday where the government enquired if it could appoint an acting DGP but the verdict is yet to be released.
It is said that names of four officers — Additional DGP B R Rana, DG Prisons RP Agarwal, DG Civil Defence and Home Guards R Awasthi and Additional DGP (CID) BL Buam — are doing the rounds to be appointed as officiating DGP.
However, Buam is unwell. The names of Agarwal and Awasthi, among other senior officers from Assam, figure on the list sent to UPSC.
There was a case against Awasthi in Assam when he was the SP of Golaghat district from June 1994 to January 1996. He was accused of causing the death of a local businessman in police custody.
When contacted, Awasthi refused to comment anything on the matter.
The incumbent DGP will hand over the charge to his new predecessor on Tuesday afternoon.
Singh was earlier given extension for three months by the NPP-led government from May.
A UNI report, quoting an official source, said Rajeev Mohan Singh, CMD of Assam Police Housing Corporation Ltd, is likely to be appointed as the next DGP of Meghalaya. Singh is a 1984-batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre.
However, everyone is tight-lipped over the appointment of the next DGP.
When contacted, Rajeev said he had not received any official communication or information regarding the matter.
Interestingly, the BJP-led government in Assam selected Kuladhar Saikia though Rajeev was the senior-most IPS officer in Assam Police as the DGP after retirement of Mukesh Sahay.
However, sources said Rajeev’s name has been included in the list sent by the state government to UPSC for consideration, which is pending.