A woman likely to become state police chief for the first time; Sandhya to get post missed by Sreelekha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Indications are that B Sandhya is likely to become the state police chief. Speculations are rife that Sandhya will become the new police chief after Tomin Thachankari, a loyalist of the chief minister was removed from the list. If Sandhya, presently the chief of fire and rescue services, is made the state police chief then she would be the first woman reaching the post.

The names of vigilance director S Sudesh Kumar and road safety commissioner Anil Kant have been shortlisted along with Sandhya. The final list was prepared at a meeting of the UPSC panel in Delhi yesterday. With Tomin Thachankari out of the list, the government is reportedly keen to make Sandhya the police chief. It is assessed that Sandhya, having a good track record, reaching the post will help the force a lot.

Though there were strong speculations that Sreelekha IPS, who had retired earlier, would become the police chief during her tenure, it did not happen then. The state government had handed over to UPSC a list of nine officers who have completed 30 years of service including Sandhya. Arun Kumar Sinha, the most senior official in the list, is the head of the Special Protection Group. He did not show interest in returning to the state.

The UPSC had received many complaints against the majority of the nine officials included in the list provided by the state. The UPSC gave the final list to the state after examining everything in detail.