Shillong, July 31: Outgoing Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP) Swaraj Bir Singh lauded the state police for its achievement in containing militancy in the state especially in the Garo Hills region.

Singh, a 1986 batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya IPS cadre, was appointed as DGP of Meghalaya last year. He was due to retire from service on April 30 this year, but his service was extended for three months by the state government.

Singh retired from service on Tuesday.

On his last day in office on Tuesday, the outgoing DGP told reporters that he was honoured to get a chance to serve the Meghalaya and the state police force.

“I have been deeply enriched by working in Meghalaya, and I have received a lot of love and cooperation from the people of the state and also the state police force,” he said.

Lauding the Meghalaya police, Singh said, “I can say that the Meghalaya police have been in the centre of things and rather it was successful in combating militancy and tackling various kinds of crimes.”

He said that the state police force have come a long way, he said, “It has matured into a force which has been able to take against various militant organizations and achieve tremendous success.”

He said that Meghalaya police was appreciated by everybody from the people of the state as well as from outside including the central government.

The outgoing state police chief also urged, “We should not lower our guards and we should keep up the performance and I am very sure the young officers, young force they will serve the state and the people in the days to come.”

Singh said that success in fighting against militancy especially in the Garo Hills region where the once dreaded banned militant outfit Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) was operating, was a combination of the efforts put in by different forces of state police.

Responding to another query, the outgoing DGP said, “As we know that some elements of the HNLC are staying in Bangladesh but they are ineffective and their activities have been contained.”

He recalled in 2016 with the help of ULFA, the HNLC tried to detonate an IED in Shillong but their attempt was foiled.

Meanwhile senior IPS officer and Director General (Civil Defence & Home Guards), Raghvendra Awasthi appointed as acting DGP of Meghalaya on Tuesday.

Awasthi belongs to the 1985 batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre.

The appointment was made pending approval of the Union Public Service Commission to appoint a full time DGP of the state.

It was reported that the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government prefers senior IPS officer, Rajeev Mohan Singh to be appointed as full time DGP of the state.

Rajeev is a 1984-batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre who is at present serving as Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Assam Police Housing Corporation Ltd.

Earlier, the Assam government did not pick up Rajeev for the DGP post, despite being the senior most IPS officer. The Assam government instead appointed Kuladhar Saikia in place of Rajeev as the new DGP after the retirement of Mukesh Sahay.