Prasad will be new Kashmir police chief

Srinagar, May 28 (IANS) Ashok Prasad, the additional director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) here, is tipped to be the new chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Prasad joined the Indian Police Service in 1979 and belongs to the Andhra Pradesh cadre.

He was appointed additional director of the IB's Srinagar office in July 2011.

He was earlier deputy director of IB's office in the state from 1999 to 2001.

Prasad was the first secretary in the Indian embassy in Nepal in 1995-99.

He is recipient of the President's Police Medal for meritorious services and the President's Police Medal for distinguished services.

The home ministry had suggested names of three officers to the Jammu and Kashmir government to pick the police chief.

Informed sources said the state cabinet meeting here on May 30 is likely to choose Prasad as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah favours his appointment.

The two other officers suggested by the ministry are Arun Chowdhary and P.M. Nair, both of whom have completed 30 years of service, mandatory to be chosen as the director general of police of the state.