Mukesh Singh appointed Manipur DGP amid escalating ethnic conflict

Guwahati: Manipur govt on Saturday appointed former Ladakh DGP, Mukesh Singh as the state’s new DGP and head of the force. His appointment comes at a time when the state’s Manipur’s three-year-old ethnic conflict has spread across the Meitei, Kuki and Naga communities, bringing renewed unrest.The state govt also simultaneously carried out a top-level reshuffle, shunting out ADGP (Intelligence) Ashutosh Kumar Sinha and ADGP (Law & Order) Lupheng Kailun. In their place, Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo has been posted as ADGP in charge of armed police, modernization, intelligence and law & order, consolidating key responsibilities under one officer.While Sinha has been posted as chairman and MD of MANIDCO and will additionally serve as director of inquiry, Manipur Lokayukta, Kailun has been appointed as MD of MPHC Ltd.The Centre moved Singh, a top counter-terror specialist, to Manipur where the situation continues to remain violent since the ethnic conflict blew up in May, 2023.The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) last week approved Singh’s inter-cadre deputation from the AGMUT cadre to Manipur for three years. The 1996-batch IPS officer and IIT-Delhi alumnus, replaced Rajiv Singh, who has been appointed secretary (security) in the Cabinet Secretariat.Singh arrived in Imphal on Saturday and will take charge of the Manipur Police from June 1.Singh later in the evening called on chief minister Y Khemchand Singh. The CM later wrote on social media, “I extend my best wishes to him as he takes on this important responsibility. With his vast experience and distinguished service record, I am confident that he will provide strong leadership in maintaining peace, law and order, and public safety across the state. Wishing him a successful tenure ahead.”Singh brings with him a formidable track record. An IIT-Delhi alumnus, he has extensive field experience in Jammu & Kashmir, having served in Pulwama, Poonch and Jammu. He led several major anti-terror operations and earned multiple gallantry awards. His career includes stints as DIG and IG in the National Investigation Agency (NIA), a central deputation with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and service as additional DGP in Jammu zone before being appointed Ladakh DGP in January this year.His appointment comes at a critical juncture when the situation has worsened with reports of cross-border involvement, including Myanmar’s Kuki National Army-Burma, which has coordinated with the anti-junta People’s Defence Force (PDF) to carry out attacks in Tangkhul Naga villages along the India-Myanmar border.The state remains tense after the killing of three church leaders of the Thadou Baptist Association India and a Chiru Naga man earlier this month, which triggered a spate of abductions. Over 38 villagers from both Naga and Kuki communities were taken, with 31 later released. The Nagas claim six of their men remain in Kuki captivity, while the Kukis say 14 of their men, including three students, are still held by Nagas.On Friday, the state was rocked by killing of a FCI truck driver. Police on Saturday said a combined security force comprising Manipur Police, CRPF, BSF and RAF while escorting a convoy of stranded FCI trucks and LPG and petroleum tankers from Yaingangpokpi towards Ukhrul came under heavy attack at Roudei (TM Kasom) village from Patleijang hill area by “armed Kuki militants who had taken tactical positions along the route.”“During the attack, an FCI truck driver, Nitish Kumar (57) of Hooghly district, West Bengal, sustained critical gunshot injuries and succumbed on the spot,” police said. A police personnel of Litan police station also sustained bullet injury.