Chief Security Advisor yet to take charge officially

Staff Correspondent

Shillong, April 22: Almost a month has passed after Rajiv Mehta was officially appointed as the Chief Security Advisor to the Government of Meghalaya, yet he has not officially taken charge due to issues related to the terms and conditions.

Mehta, a former state Director General of Police (DGP), expressed his keenness to take over the mantle but was also vivid in telling The Sentinel over phone on Saturday, “I am ready for the post but the terms and conditions have not been given to me.”

“My service will be rendered to the optimum level and the terms should be well elucidated”, stated Mehta. The former DGP known for his expertise in dealing with counter insurgency is wanted by the state government for his combating skills in iling the armed militant outfits in the state. His last stint as the state DGP witnessed the dreaded GNLA spine being broken with top commanders and cadres surrendering to the law authorities.

Presently in New Delhi wishes to see the terms and conditions at the earliest. Interestingly, the Chief Secretary KS Kropha on being asked on Saturday said, “The appointment of the chief security advisor has been notified by the government,” besides adding, “I thought he had joined or he will be joining soon”.

While Mehta appointment is seen as another move to accommodate retired and loyal public servants, as castigated by certain NGOs, a certain section of the police set up said that the state police itself desired his services to guide for a year or so. “We have the expertise but wanted his experience in the context of complete policing”, stated a senior police official on condition of anonymity.