Top police officials disheartened over Meghalaya DGP 's appointment

SHILLONG: The decision of the government to appoint Assam police officer R Chandranathan as Meghalaya’s new Director General of Police (DGP) has disheartened those top police officials who have been serving all their lives in the State.

Chandranathan’s name was second in the list which was approved by the UPSC.

According to sources, the decision to appoint someone from Assam will demoralize officers who had served all throughout their career in Meghalaya.

“It is a known fact that when they started their career most of the officers under Assam-Meghalaya cadre choose to serve in a bigger State like Assam,” they said.

“This will discourage officers who have served in the State throughout their career,” they added.

It may be mentioned that after the retirement of Swaraj Bir Singh on July 31, no full-fledged DGP was appointed in the State. On November 6, Chandranathan who is the Special Director General, Railways of Assam was assigned the job of the Meghalaya DGP.

Since, Singh’s superannuation on July 31, this year, the State has seen two DGPs in-charge — R Awasthi Director General, Civil Defence and Home Guards and RP Agarwal, Director General (Prisons), who were appointed as acting DGPs.

Awasthi, who also retired on September 30, was replaced by RP Agarwal, Director General (Prisons), as DGP in-charge of the State.

According to the government notification, Chandranthan was appointed as Meghalaya police chief on the recommendation of the UPSC.

On October 1, the UPSC had cleared the names of RP Agarwal, R Chandranathan and Assam’s Additional Director General of Police in-charge Training and Armed Police A.K. Sinha Casshyap.

Sources said that the State government should have regularized the service of Agarwal, the acting DGP of Meghalaya and the senior most police officer.

Also Read: Meghalaya News