Ajay Kumar Singh appointed new DGP of Jharkhand

The state government on Tuesday appointed Ajay Kumar Singh as the new Director General of Police (DGP), ending the prevailing tension of a headless police force after the retirement of outgoing incumbent Neeraj Sinha last week.

The Department of Home, Prisons and Disaster Management has issued a notification to transfer Singh, who served as Chairman and Managing Director of Jharkhand Police Housing Corporation Limited with the additional charge of Director General of Anti-Corruption Bureau, as the new DGP.

Singh, a 1989-batch IPS officer, was among the three officers approved by the Union Public Service Commission for the post. On taking office, Singh said, "My priorities will be better policing, service to the people and crime control."

Singh started his career as a police officer in Ramgarh and later served as Superintendent of Police in several districts, including Koderma and Dhanbad. He has also served in several capacities in various capacities, such as Deputy Inspector General of Hazaribagh and Additional Director General of Special Branch and Crime Investigation Department.

Neeraj Sinha retired on Saturday and relinquished his post on the same day. The post of DGP remained vacant, even as the state government had given an undertaking before the Supreme Court that the state's new police chief would be announced by Sunday. Political leaders have also started airing their views on the matter and said that the appointment should be made soon based on the recommendations of the UPSC.