A 1987-batch IPS officer Dilbagh Singh took over as new Director General of Police (DGP) Jammu and Kashmir, day after his predecessor S P Vaid was transferred and posted as Transport Commissioner, unceremoniously. In February, Dilbagh made headlines when he was posted as DG prisons after escape of Naveed Jatt, a top Lashkar-e-Toiba militant who was arrested in 2014 from south Kashmir. Jatt’s name later figured in the high-profile assassination of Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari outside his office in Press Enclave, in June 2018. Dilbagh took a number of measures to tighten jail security set-up after Jatt’s dramatic escape.
Dilbagh started his career as the Additional Superintendent of Police in Kupwara district. He has also served as the intelligence chief of the state. According to a report, in the year 2000, Dilbagh was suspended as the Deputy Inspector General of south Kashmir’s Anantnag after he was allegedly found involved in a major recruitment scam.
Dilbagh has served as ADGP security, Inspector General of Police, IGP Crime and Railways, J&K, Intelligence Chief of J&K.
But in his long stint as police officer, Dilbagh was always accessible to people at all times. A senior journalist recalls how Dilbagh would speak to reporters freely about issues. At a time when most of the police officers shy away from interacting with media, Dilbagh would entertain everyone.
Dilbagh, who continues to hold the charge of Director-General (Prisons), has served J&K police in different capacities in filed and at staff levels. He has served as ASP headquarter Kupwara, Addl. SP Doda, SP Traffic NHW, SP Doda, SP Vigilance, SP Baramulla, Commandant JKAP 7th battalion, ADIG Anantnag, ADIG Baramulla, DIG Security J&K, DIG Jammu, Director SSG J&K IGP Crime & Railways, IGP CID, IGP Traffic, IGP Homeguard/ Civil Defence, IGP Armed, Director SK Police Academy Udhampur, IGP Jammu Zone, MD Police Housing Corporation, ADGP Security, Commandant General Home guard/ CD and DG Prisons with additional charge of Fire and Emergency Services.
With S P Vaid’s replacement coming in wake of recent militant attacks on policemen and kidnapping of their kins, Dilbagh would have less time to settle in DGP’s shoes. The immediate challenge for him would be to cool the post-kidnapping situation in south Kashmir.
