The Manipur government on Thurday appointed Rajiv Singh, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Tripura cadre as the new Director General of Police (DGP) of Manipur. Mr. Singh, a 1993 batch IPS officer replaces P Doungel, who was transferred as Officer on Special Duty (Home), a post created on Thursday. Mr. Doungel, a 1987 batch IPS officer from Manipur cadre belongs to the Kuki community.
The State has been affected by ethnic violence between the Kuki and the Meitei community since May 3.
“Further, the Governor of Manipur is also pleased to order that Rajiv Singh. IPS (TR: 93) should take charge of the post of DGP, Manipur from Shri P. Doungel, IPS(MA:87) immediately upon joining the State Government. By orders and in the name of the Governor,” the order issued on behalf of the Manipur Governor said.
On May 29, Mr. Singh, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) deputed the 1993-batch officer from Tripura to Manipur cadre. He was posted as Inspector General, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), when the changes were made. The order said that Mr. Singh is transferred from Tripura cadre to Manipur cadre for a period of three years in relaxation of the policy as a “special case in public interest.”
Mr. Doungel has been sidelined since May 3 when the Manipur government appointed former CRPF Director General Kuldiep Singh as a security adviser.
A May 4 State government order said that “in view of the prevailing law and order situation following the unwanted incidents” that occurred after the organisation of the Tribal Solidarity March on May 3, “the Governor of Manipur is pleased to designate Ashutosh Sinha, IPS, Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence), Manipur as the overall Operational Commander to control and bring normalcy in the State.”
During Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the State from May 29-June 1, Mr. Doungel was not part of any security review meeting held in Imphal in the presence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. He however accompanied Mr. Shah to the hill areas of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Moreh and attended the security review meetings at these locations. Mr. Doungel’s official residence in Imphal was vandalised on May 4.
