Imphal, April 2: Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s newly appointed security adviser Gopal Sharma will assume office tomorrow.
Sharma, a 1972-batch IPS officer and former director-general of police of Jammu and Kashmir, will straightaway start assessing security concerns in Manipur for advising the chief minister on law and order in the state.
He was also a DGP of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
Sharma arrived today at Imphal airport and said he would be assuming his office at the south block of the Manipur secretariat tomorrow.
He did not say much about his role as a security adviser to Ibobi Singh, who is facing tough times trying to contain activities of more than 30 militant groups operating in the state.
Nineteen among them have signed a truce with the government and one more is prepared to sign a suspension of operation agreement.
“I just landed here and do not have any first hand knowledge of the situation. Let me find out things for myself first and I will talk to you after sometime,” Sharma told reporters at the airport.
When asked about his assigned job, Sharma said he was expected to advise the chief minister on security concerns.
“With my experience as a police officer I am hoping to contribute in improving the situation in the state and serve the people of Manipur. I will try my best,” he said.
Ibobi Singh is the first chief minister in the Northeast to have a security adviser. Sharma’s appointment is for two years.
Man held
Barpeta police arrested Nurul Islam for his alleged involvement in poppy cultivation at Pathlikuchi village under Barpeta police station last night, reports our correspondent from Dhubri.
Islam allegedly cultivated poppy on seven bighas of land, which was worth Rs 7 crore in the international market.
The police uprooted the plants and destroyed the poppy fields.
Security adviser for Ibobi
