D N Gautam is new state DGP

PATNA: ADG (HQ) D N Gautam was on Thursday elevated and made the new director general of police (DGP) of Bihar. He assumed office of the top cop after the present incumbent Shiv Chandra Jha's superannuation.

Incidentally, TOI was the first to report on Wednesday that Gautam was all set to head the state police.

The government has also given the additional charge of ADG (HQ) to ADG (law and order) Anil Kumar Sinha.

An MSc in Mathematics from Allahabad University, Gautam is a 1974 batch IPS official. He got his training in Gaya as ASP.

Later, he became ASP Jhanjharpur in Madhubani district. Thereafter, he held different assignments, including those of SP (Saran, Rohtas and Munger), IG (training), ADG (technical services), ADG (special branch) and ADG (HQ) before becoming the DGP.

From 1982 to 1985, Gautam was on central deputation and served as SP (Intelligence Bureau). During his second stint with the Centre, he served ITBP as DIG and IG (CRPF). He returned to his parent cadre in 2002. Gautam's tenure will be of exactly one year.

However, with his elevation, police officers in the headquarters said the government had ignored the claims of three senior senior officers - A R Sinha (1972), a former DGP, Anand Shankar and Manoje Nath (both 1973 batch). Gautam's two batchmates, Ranjit Sinha and J K Khanna, are also senior to him but they are on central deputation.

According to reliable sources, Khanna had sent a fax to the home department that he would be joining his parent cadre on September 3 this year. Now a piquant situation would emerge in the police hierarchy with the arrival of Khanna as only four DG-rank officers can be posted in the state.

The slot is full with Gautam becoming the DGP. Everyone in the police headquarters is curious to know what would be the fate of Khanna on his return.

After taking over his new role, Gautam thanked chief minister Nitish Kumar for making him the DGP. He said all police officers should feel privileged that they are carrying out the task of safety and security of the common man.

As regards the task he has set for himself as the DGP, Gautam said, "I will ensure that police personnel at the thana level behave properly with the people. The police headquarters would take it seriously if they don't mend their ways."

Though outgoing DGP Jha had a brief tenure of only four months, he earned accolades from all officers. He asked senior police officers to co-operate with Gautam.

It was after a long gap that an outgoing DGP was given farewell by IAS officers as well at the conference hall of the secretariat. Speaking on the occasion, principal home secretary Afzal Amanullah lauded the role played by Jha during his tenure and wished him good health in life.

Later IPS officers, as a custom, pushed Jha's car upto the secretariat's main gate.