Behra replaces Senkumar as Kerala Police Chief; Jacob Thomas to head Vigilance
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In the first major reshuffle at the top of police administration after assuming office Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has removed state police chief TP Senkumar as DGP in charge of law and order. Loknath Behra, currently in charge of the Fire and Rescue Department, will be the new Police Chief. Jacob Thomas replaces vigilance Director ADGP Sankar Reddy.
Though a rejig at the top level of police is usual after a new Chief Minister takes charge, an abrupt removal of the DGP in charge of law and order is unusual. Sen Kumar is removed as the state police chief even though he has a year left for retirement.
The new police chief Loknath Behra is an IPS officer of 1985 batch. He started his career as ASP in Alappuzha in Kerala. He had a stint at the CBI and was the first IG of operations when the National Investigation Agency was formed.
Loknath Behra
- IPS officer of 1985 batch
- Began his career as Alappuzha ASP.
Positions held:- Ernakulam City Commissioner
- Deputy Commissioner, Thiruvananthapuram
- Kannur SP
- Investigated the Purulia arms drop case during his stint at CBI
- IG at Kerala state police headquarters
- IG of Operations, NIA.
- Interrogated American terrorist David Coleman Headley
Jacob Thomas had created a lot of headache for the Oommen Chandy ministry when he was the ADGP of Vigilance. He faced transfers at regular intervals as Fire Force chief and then as Managing Director of Police Construction Corporation. He had also launched a public platform against corruption and was always vocal against corruption at the top.
