Maoists top priority for new Chhattisgarh police chief

Calcutta News.Net
Monday 18th July, 2011

Chhattisgarh's newly-appointed director general of police (DGP) Anil Navaney, who took charge Monday, said handling Maoists will be his top priority.

Talking to mediapersons soon after assuming charge, Navaney said: 'Of course, handling the Naxal problem is my top priority, but containing rising crime is also on top of my agenda.'

Navaney replaced Vishwa Ranjan, who was appointed as the director general, home guards, last week in a surprise decision by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state government.

Ranjan, who was present when Navaney took charge, declined to comment on his unceremonious exit.

Sources said that Ranjan, who was quite upset by his removal, met Chief Minister Raman Singh late Sunday and thanked him for the support extended to him during his about four year stint as the police chief of one of India's most Maoist affected states.

Ranjan did not join his new post Monday, but proceeded on a month-long leave. Sources close to him claimed that Ranjan, who is set to retire in March next year, will not take up the new assignment.

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