Senior IPS officer Anil Kant would be the new chief of Kerala police, succeeding incumbent DGP Loknath Behera who retired on Wednesday, authorities sources mentioned.
A 1988 batch officer, Kant is presently serving because the Road Safety Commissioner within the state.
A cabinet assembly chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan picked Kant for the highest submit from the record of officers advisable by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), they added.
The collection of Kant, who all the time selected to maintain a low profile all through his profession, got here as a shock for a lot of because the media had identified Vigilance Director Sudesh Kumar and Fire and Rescue Services Director General B Sandhya as the primary contenders for the submit.
Significantly, he’s thought of to be the primary Dalit officer to adorn the highest place within the police division within the southern state.
Hailing from New Delhi, Kant had begun his police profession within the Kerala cadre as an assistant superintendent in northern Wayanad district.
He additionally served as assistant director within the Intelligence Bureau earlier than working beneath varied designations within the state together with because the chief of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Prisons and Correctional Services and Fire Force.
A recipient of President’s police medal for the meritorious providers, Kant has solely seven extra months of service however might get extension as per the brand new tips concerning the appointment of the state police chief.
Interestingly, he’s nonetheless Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) and can be promoted to the DGP rank solely by the top of subsequent moth, sources mentioned.
Meanwhile, Behera, who retired ending his 36 years of service, burdened the necessity to regulate the usage of drones within the state in view of the latest terror assault in Jammu airport utilizing the unmanned aerial car.
In his farewell speech on the Special Armed Police floor right here, he mentioned he has submitted sure solutions to the federal government on this regard.
An emotional Behera, an Odisha native, additionally mentioned he’s a Malayalee at coronary heart and would proceed to put on ‘mundu’, the normal Kerala dhoti as a part of his love for the state.