With the retirement of CISF director-general, 1980-batch IPS officer Surender Singh and NSG DG R.C. Tayal, two major Central forces have been rendered headless, since the government has not named full-time successors to these posts. For the time being, ITBP DG Krishna Chaudhary will officiate as the CISF DG in an additional capacity and BSF DG K.K. Sharma will do the same at NSG “until further orders”. But buzz has already started on who will fill these positions. Among all the names doing the rounds is that of Ashok Patnaik, CEO of the National Intelligence Grid, the government’s intelligence gathering unit for counter-terrorism. The buzz grew stronger since it was reported that Mr Patnaik, a 1983-batch Gujarat cadre IPS officer was seen closeted with Mr Singh for long on the day he retired. What’s puzzling observers is Mr Patnaik, who is also former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s son-in-law, was named NATGRID chief just last month and has been appointed for a tenure ending in December 2018. Why would Mr Patnaik want to shift now? It’s a question that’s on the minds of many. But with the government not giving any indication of its plans, the rumour bazaar will remain lively.
No second report
The Prakash Singh Committee’s 450-page first report on the Jat reservation agitation riots carried scathing remarks on the failure of the civil administration and police in controlling the rampaging mob. Embarrassed by the findings, the Haryana government has asked the head of the probe panel, Prakash Singh, a former director-general of BSF and former DGP (Uttar Pradesh), not to go ahead with the second part of the report — which was to be on police reforms. Mr Singh says that he received a formal letter from the state government thanking him for a “commendable job” but also informing him that there’s “no need” for the second report. Mr Singh had indicted officers from the additional state secretary to the DGP in his first report faulting them for inaction and caste bias. At the time, the government had transferred several officers, but has shied away from taking action. The “indicted” officers had contested the panel’s findings and probably will be even more relieved to learn that the second part of Mr Singh’s report will not see the light of the day.
