Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, July 23: Ashok Prasad, who was Additional Director in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) at Srinagar, today took over as Director General of 1.2 lakh strong Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Prasad’s appointment order was signed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the morning and in the afternoon soon after his arrival from New Delhi he took over as the Police Chief of the State from interim Director General of Police K Rajendra.
The post of the DGP had fallen vacant after the retirement of former DGP Kuldeep Khoda, who retired on May 31 this year. The State Cabinet headed by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had given approval to the appointment of Prasad as DGP in May this year. However, due to last minute procedural difficulties, K Rajendra was made Interim DGP.
Soon after taking over as the DGP, Prasad held a meeting with the Senior Police Officers of the State at the Police Headquarters. During his interaction with the Senior Police Officers, the DGP was given brief account of the functioning of various wings of the Police. The DGP asked the heads of the various wings of the police to furnish the requirements, if any to PHQ, so that these requirement are fulfilled to enhance the working capabilities of the police force.
The DGP in this address stressed for enhancing the capabilities of the police force and public service at grass root level. He told the officers that he would work for the betterment of the police force that has faced tough times during past over two decades.
Mr Prasad during his address said that he would consolidate the gains achieved by the police force over the decades and take it to new heights in making the Jammu and Kashmir Police as one of the modern police force in the country.
The DGP was also briefed about the security scenario and law and order situation of the State by the Senior Police Officers. He told the senior officers that Police has achieved many successes on different fronts during past 22 years and the pace of success would continue with the cooperation of people.
Soon after taking over as the DGP, Prasad called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at around 5 p.m. The meeting lasted for about half an hour during which they discussed the security scenario of the State.
The Chief Minister and the DGP discussed the recent upsurge in the militant activities in South Kashmir. The DGP reportedly told the CM that the situation in South Kashmir is not as alarming as it is being projected. He told the CM that the militants had consolidated their positions in South Kashmir as there was less security force pressure on them in the area.
The CM and DGP also discussed the infiltration scenario of this year. The DGP reportedly told the CM that Army along the LoC has been successful in foiling the militant bids to infiltrate. However, he didn’t rule out infiltration of few odd groups.
Later Mr Prasad also called on Governor N N Vohra at Raj Bhawan and discussed various important internal security management issues including matters relating to ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.
Earlier in the afternoon on this arrival at the Police headquarters, the DGP was received by Additional Directors General of Police K Rajendra Kumar, P L Gupta, Dr Ram Lubhaya and Dr SP Vaid and other Senior Police Officers.
He was presented a colourful guard of honour by the contingents of Armed Police at PHQ. He inspected the guard of honour and was given a warm welcome by the PHQ staff.
The meeting with the DGP at the police headquarters besides the ADGPs’ was also attended by IGPs, SM Sahai, Owais Ahmed, Dr. B. Srinivas, HK Lohia, Deepak Kumar, Rauf-ul-Hassan, Abdul Gani Mir, M Sulaiman Salaria, Sunil Kumar Sharma, Dr KK Saini, PR Manhas, Yoginder Koul, Alok Puri, Muneer Ahmed Khan, and AQ Manhas, DIGPs, A S Bali, RP Resutra, Syed Ahfadul Mujtaba, Abdul Hamid and Shakeel Ahmed Beig, AIG (Personnel), Ghulam Hassan Bhat, Exen PCD ND Khawaja and other Senior Police Officers.
Born in 1956 in Bihar, Prasad was inducted in IPS Andhra Pradesh Cadre in 1979. He has served in different categories in different States including Punjab and Naxal hit States. He served in Jammu and Kashmir as Deputy Director and Additional Director IB Kashmir. He has received Police Medal in 1999 and President’s Police Medal in 2009 for distinguished services.
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