THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Four IPS officers, including controversial officer Tomin Thachankary, were made eligible for promotion to DGP grade. The screening panel headed by former Chief Secretary Nalini Netto made all four IPS officers of 1987 batch eligible for the promotion. R. Sreelekha, the first woman IPS officer of the state, is also among the four. Special protection group director Arun Kumar Sinha and ADGP (Battalions) Sudesh Kumar were the others cleared by the screening committee.
According to sources, the screening committee had met just couple of days ahead of Nalini Netto's retirement as Chief Secretary on Thursday. Thachankary, who is facing criminal and vigilance charges is said to be close to many of the top CPM leaders, and hence the screening committee's decision is expected to invite criticism. The decision is awaiting Cabinet clearance. Home Secretary Subratho Biswas and state police chief Loknath Behera were the other members of the screening committee.
The four officers would be given posting once vacancies arise in DGP posts. At present there are eight IPS officers in DGP rank in the state, while the number of DGP posts sanctioned by the centre was only four. DC had recently reported that the government had regularised the suspension period of Thachankary in connection with charges of foreign trip flouting norms and meeting persons with criminal background in Qatar. This was said to be prelude to making him eligible for DGP grade, said sources. Earlier there were also reports that Thachankary's promotion from IG to ADGP rank was objected by the centre. Even then, the previous UDF government granted him prmotion eventually, after holding it for some time.
