Nalin Prabhat posted as Special DGP J&K

Srinagar, Aug 15: The Home Ministry has named senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Nalin Prabhat as the next Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu and Kashmir.

Prabhat, a 1992 batch IPS officer from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, will take charge as the DGP after the tenure of RR Swain, the incumbent DGP of Jammu and Kashmir, ends on September 30. Swain, a 1991 batch Jammu and Kashmir cadre IPS officer, will retire from serving as the DGP for 11 months.

Nalin Prabhat has been posted in Jammu and Kashmir as Special Director General (SDG) of police till September 30 and will take charge as the DGP on October 1.

An order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs said that Mr Prabhat, is sent to Jammu and Kashmir with "immediate effect" as Special Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police. It added that upon the retirement of Swain on September 30, "Prabhat will be appointed as DGP, Jammu and Kashmir."

A senior official from the Ministry of Home Affairs said that NILIN Prabhat is well-versed in J&K anti-terror operations, having served in various capacities in Jammu and Kashmir for over twelve years.

Born on March 14, 1968, in Thungri village, Manali, Himachal Pradesh, Nalin Prabhat is an alumnus of St. Stephen's College, Delhi, where he completed his BA (Honours) and MA. Throughout his career, he has held key roles in both Andhra Pradesh and the Union government, earning recognition for his leadership and dedication to maintaining peace and security.

At 55, Nalin Prabhat is a highly respected officer, having won the police gallantry medal three times. He has a distinguished record, including heading the 'Greyhounds,' a specialized anti-Naxal police force in Andhra Pradesh. His extensive experience in handling sensitive operations is evident from his past roles in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), where he served as the Inspector General (IG) of operations and Additional Director General (ADG) overseeing deployments in Kashmir.

His distinguished service has earned him several prestigious awards, including the Police Medal for Gallantry (three times), the Parakram Padak, and the Police Medal for Meritorious and Distinguished Service.

Jammu has seen a surge in terrorist activities over the past few months with encounters taking place on a regular basis — including an assault on an army convoy in Kathua and skirmishes in Doda and Udhampur. Around 20 soldiers and more than a dozen civilians have also been killed during clashes this year.  An Indian Army captain passed away on Wednesday after being critically wounded amid an encounter in Doda district.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh convened an important meeting to discuss the "rising" terror-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.