Srinagar, July 22: Ashok Prasad, an IPS officer of 1979 batch would be taking over as Director General of Police (DGP) Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on Tuesday.
 He would be replacing the Addition Director General of Police (ADGP) K Rajendra Kumar who had taken over as the officiating DGP after the retirement of Kuldeep Khoda on May 31 this year. Prasad, who would have been eligible for posting as Andhra Pradesh DGP in 2013, was chosen by the Ministry of Home Affairs and JK Government jointly for his posting as the new DGP. There were two officers of 1977 batch of IPS in Andhra Pradesh but they would be retiring later this year after which Prasad, a 1979 batch IPS officer would become the senior most.
 “I will be arriving in Srinagar on Monday,” the DGP designate, Ashok Prasad told Greater Kashmir over phone from New Delhi. “I will be taking over the charge on Monday evening or Tuesday morning. I expect that order will be issued after I reach Srinagar,” he said.
 Omar Abdullah cabinet, which met at Karnah on the Line of Control (LoC) on May 30, had approved the appointment of Prasad as the new DGP of the state. Prasad would be heading the country’s second largest contingent of police force. He according to sources has already developed a good rapport with the state bureaucracy besides police officers of the state and has held meetings with senior police officers in north, south and central Kashmir.
 Prasad was posted in Kashmir four years ago. For three years he remained as Deputy Director Intelligence Bureau. Last year he was elevated as Additional Director Intelligence Bureau Kashmir.
 Referring to the strategy adopted by his predecessor Kuldeep Khoda. “My predecessor had formulated a strategy. If it needs some addition that will be done,” he said. “We have good officers like K Rajendera Kumar, S P Vaid, S M Sahai, Dr B Srinivas and many others and am hopeful things will move in positive direction at a fast pace.”
 The DGP Prasad said that situation in JK has changed for good. “Now the violence is down, infiltration is also down. We have to change ourselves with the changing situation,” he said.
 The former intelligence officer said youth were “misled to take up the arms and then indulge in stone pelting.” “We have devised a strategy to bring them (youth) in mainstream,” he said.

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