Second J&K native to head State Police after 1990
Srinagar: The State Cabinet today cleared the name of senior IPS officer DrShesh Paul Vaid as the new Director General of Police. He will take charge from K Rajendra Kumar whose extended tenure comes to end on December 31.
On expected lines, the Cabinet which met in Jammu this evening put stamp of approval on Vaid’s name for heading the State Police as he emerged as consensus choice of the state’s ruling coalition partners PDP and BJP.
“The Cabinet has approved the appointment of Dr SP Vaid as DGP,” Government spokesman Naeem Akhter confirmed to Greater Kashmir.
This newspaper had already reported on Tuesday that State Cabinet will take final call on the DGP’s appointment in today’s meeting.
According to sources, Vaid’s non-controversial past and vast experience at key positions made him choice for the top slot.
“He was at the helm-of-affairs in managing law and order situation in Kashmir after being appointed as Special DG Law and Order and Coordination in September this year. He handled the situation effectively and deftly,” they said.
Vaid, an IPS officer of 1986 batch, is the second native of J&K to head the State police post 1989. Earlier, KuldeepKhoda was the lone J&K domicile to hold the prized position after 90s.
Vaid, who has held sensitive positions in Kashmir at the peak of militancy, has become the 14th DG of J&K Police.
The post of DGP was created in 1982 with Peer Ghulam Hassan Shah becoming the first officer to hold the slot. Earlier, the State police was headed by an Inspector General.
Between 1982 and 1989, two other J&K residents – M. M. Khajuria (16-01-1985 to 20-05-1986) and GhulamJeelaniPandit (21-05-1987 to 20-12-1989) also headed the State police as DGP.
An indication that Vaid would succeed K. Rajendra came on September 8 this year when Government appointed him as Special DG (Law and Order and Coordination). The move was seen as precursor to his appointment as police chief of the State.
Born in 1959, Vaid after qualifying the civil service was allotted the J&K cadre in 1986.
After completing his probation period, Vaid started his career from Central Kashmir’s Budgam district as Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1988.
Vaid held prestigious positions including SP Budgam, DIG North Kashmir, DIG Jammu range, DIG Kashmir range, IG Jammu Zone, ADGP Headquarters and DG Prisons.
In 2009, Vaid went on Central deputation to the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), New Delhi, where he served at different positions including Director Special Planning, Director Training and Director Administration.
Following his promotion as Additional Director General of Police in 2011, Vaid returned to J&K same year.
Vaid survived two assassination bids – one in 1990 in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district and another in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district in late 90s.
He was seriously injured when militants ambushed his vehicle in March 1999 near Sopore crossing on Srinagar-Baramulla Highway. He was the then range DIG of Baramulla-Kupwara in North Kashmir.
He is recipient of several awards including the President’s Police Medal for Prestigious Services, Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal for Meritorious Services and Police Medal for Gallantry.
Vaid has three years of service left. He will attain superannuation on October 31, 2019.