J&K police chief gets 3-month extension amid unrest

Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police K Rajendra Kumar was on Thursday given an extension of three months, while S S Vaid, who is tipped to succeed him, has been appointed Director General in charge of Law and Order and coordination.

The decision to give an extension to Kumar was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar.

Kumar, a 1984 batch IPS officer, was appointed chief of the state police in May 2014 and was due to retire at end of this month. This is for the first time that a police chief has been given an extension by the state government since the onset of militancy in 1990.

Vaid, a 1986 batch IPS officer, who was holding the charge of Director General of Prisons, has been appointed as Director General incharge of Coordination and Law and order.

The decision to allow Kumar to continue as the head of the force is being seen as a reflection of differences in the state cabinet over who should lead the force which has been at the forefront of fighting militancy.

The Kashmir valley has been witnessing unrest for last two months with violence claiming over 70 lives so far.

S K Misra, a 1985 batch IPS officer, has been shifted as Director General of Prisons.

Among other appointments, B B Vyas will be the new Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister replacing Naveen Chowdhury, who is also the finance commissioner.