Ratnakar Baral replaced Y Joykumar Singh as Manipur State Police Chief

The Election Commission on 5 January 2012 decided to change the DGP of Manipur, Y Joykumar Singh after the Commission reviewed election preparations in the state. Singh was then appointed as the Managing Director of Police Housing.

The Assembly polls in Manipur are scheduled for 28 January 2012.

Governor Gurbachan Singh Jagat following the Election Commission’s (EC) directive replaced DGP Y Joykumar Singh with Ratnakar Baral citing concerns that the top cop was in a position where he could misuse his office during elections. Baral is former ADGP (Intelligence) Manipur. Qureshi claimed that the EC had received intelligence inputs about Singh, who is believed to be extremely close to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi informed that the People’s Democratic Front, an anti-Congress alliance of five political parties and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had expressed concerns about Singh with the EC. Qureshi also maintained that the transfer was necessary to ensure free and fair elections.