New Delhi: B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, the IAS officer overseeing Chhattisgarh police's offensive against Maoists, was on Wednesday appointed chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir in what is being seen as a signal that the Centre will carry forward its "iron-fist policy" in the Valley.

Vijay Kumar, who last week completed his term as senior security adviser in the Union home ministry but is more famous as the IPS officer who headed the operation that eliminated forest brigand Veerappan, has been made adviser to governor N.N. Vohra.

Subrahmanyam, serving as Chhattisgarh additional home secretary, was earlier in the day sent to Jammu and Kashmir on deputation by the Centre. He replaces B.B. Vyas, who was on a year's extension and will now serve as adviser to the governor.

The state came under governor's rule for the fourth time in a decade on Wednesday morning, a day after the BJP pulled down the Mehbooba Mufti government.

"The President has approved the imposition of governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir with immediate effect," a spokesperson for the Union home ministry said.

A communiqué issued by the government said the cabinet's appointments committee had approved placing the services of Subrahmanyam at the disposal of the Jammu and Kashmir government.

"He is a tough taskmaster and is considered an expert in internal security matters. The government is sending him to Jammu and Kashmir with a certain plan and to carry forward its iron-fist policy in the Valley," a home ministry official said.

Sources said Subrahmanyam, a 1987-batch Chhattisgarh-cadre officer who was in the PMO when Narendra Modi took office and had served as private secretary to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his first term, would be the main link between the PMO and the governor.