J&K Government Elevates Four IPS Officers as In-Charge IGPs, Strengthening Senior Police Leadership
Jammu and Kashmir Government has elevated four senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers of the AGMUT cadre to the rank of In-Charge Inspectors General of Police (IGPs), marking a significant administrative development in the Union Territory’s police leadership structure. The move is being seen as an important step towards strengthening the senior command hierarchy across multiple wings of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
The officers who have been granted the elevation belong to the 2009 batch of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre and are currently serving in key policing and administrative assignments within Jammu and Kashmir.
According to an official order issued by senior government functionary Chandraker Bharti, the promoted officers have been placed as In-Charge IGPs with immediate effect. However, the government clarified that their detailed posting and assignment orders will be issued separately by the competent authority in due course.
Four Senior IPS Officers Elevated
Among the officers elevated to the rank of In-Charge Inspector General of Police is Shakti Kumar Pathak, who is presently serving as Assistant Director in the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu and Kashmir. In addition to his primary responsibilities, he is also holding the additional charge of Director, ACB Jammu and Kashmir. His elevation is being viewed as recognition of his experience in handling anti-corruption investigations and administrative oversight within one of the Union Territory’s most sensitive agencies.
Another officer promoted to the IGP rank is Dr Mohd Haseeb Mughal, who is currently posted as Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Traffic, Jammu. He has been associated with traffic regulation, road safety management and law-and-order coordination in the Jammu region. Officials believe his experience in managing urban traffic systems and public movement during high-pressure situations will be valuable at the higher leadership level.
The government has also elevated Sheikh Junaid Mehmood, who is presently serving as DIG, Indian Reserve (IR), Kashmir. During his tenure in the Indian Reserve wing, he has been involved in operational coordination and deployment management in the Valley. His promotion is expected to further strengthen leadership within the reserve police framework.
Similarly, Shahid Mehraj Rather, currently serving as Director, Police Telecom, has also been promoted as In-Charge IGP. He has been associated with modernization and communication infrastructure within the police department, an area that has gained increasing importance with the growing emphasis on technology-driven policing and secure communication networks.
Separate Posting Orders to Be Issued
The Home Department has clarified that while the officers have been elevated to the rank of In-Charge IGPs, their formal postings and departmental allocations will be notified separately. Such administrative orders are typically issued after internal consultations regarding organizational requirements and operational priorities.
Boost to Senior Police Administration
The elevation of these officers is being regarded as an important career milestone for all four IPS officers, each of whom has served in diverse and strategically significant assignments. Their collective experience spans anti-corruption operations, traffic administration, reserve police management and police telecommunications.
Officials believe the move will further reinforce the senior leadership structure of the Jammu and Kashmir Police at a time when the Union Territory continues to focus on administrative efficiency, security coordination and modernization of policing systems. The promotions are also expected to facilitate smoother functioning and improved command management across various critical branches of the police establishment.
