Amidst the ongoing wave of violence in Manipur, the state government has made a significant decision by appointing a new Director General of Police (DGP).
In an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, senior IPS officer Rajiv Singh, who hails from the neighboring Tripura cadre, has been named as the new DGP of Manipur, replacing the incumbent P. Doungel.
P. Doungel, a 1987 batch IPS officer of the Manipur cadre, has been reassigned to the newly-created role of Officer-on-Special Duty (OSD) in the Home Department, according to the order.
The appointment of Rajiv Singh, a 1993 batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre, was approved by the governor of Manipur, who directed him to assume the position immediately upon joining the state government.
Rajiv Singh previously served as the Director of Fire and Emergency Services and the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) in Tripura. Currently holding the position of Inspector General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The appointment of a new police chief comes at a critical time for Manipur, as the state has been grappling with unprecedented ethnic violence for the past month.
The situation has been dire, with the death toll reaching 80 and over 300 people sustaining injuries.
Additionally, the violence has resulted in the destruction of approximately 2,000 houses, numerous government and private properties, and a substantial number of vehicles.
The outbreak of violence can be traced back to a “Tribal Solidarity March” organized by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur in the 11 hill districts.
The march was held in protest against the demand made by the Meitei community for Scheduled Tribe status.
Prior to this event, tensions had been simmering due to the eviction of Kuki villagers by the state government from reserve forest land, leading to a series of smaller agitations across four districts.
To address the escalating crisis, the central government had previously appointed retired IPS officer Kuldiep Singh, the former chief of the Central Reserve Police Force, as a security advisor to the Manipur government.
However, with the appointment of Rajiv Singh as the new DGP, the state government aims to bolster its law enforcement efforts and restore peace and stability in the region.
The new police chief will face the daunting task of quelling the violence, ensuring the safety and security of the residents, and promoting communal harmony. (Edited)
