DN Gautam

Ranchi, Jan. 11: Chief minister Arjun Munda today appointed former Bihar director-general of police (DGP) D.N. Gautam as security adviser, with status of minister of state.

A 1974-batch IPS officer, Gautam, known as one of the toughest and upright police officers in the country, retired as DGP on July 31, 2009.

The state government had recently created two posts of advisers with minister of state status — one to advise on development, and the other on security.

The state is yet to decide on a bureaucrat to don the development adviser’s hat.

“The search is on,” the chief minister said after signing the file for Gautam’s appointment.

The security adviser, who will assume charge next week, will monitor anti-Naxalite operations, police modernisation and general crime control.

Gautam, when contacted, refused to comment on his challenge ahead. “Let me first take charge,” he told The Telegraph from Patna. He had served as DIG in Palamau before Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar.

Gautam received the Police Medal in 1998 and letters of appreciation from the Bihar government for his exemplary work on five occasions during his long career.

An M.Sc in Mathematics from Allahabad University, Gautam joined as ASP Jhanjharpur in Madhubani district. Thereafter, he held different assignments, including those of SP (Saran, Rohtas and Munger), IG (training), ADG (technical services), ADG (special branch) and ADG (HQ) before becoming the DGP on August 1, 2008.

From 1982 to 1985, Gautam was on central deputation and served as SP (Intelligence Bureau). During his second stint with the Centre, he served ITBP as DIG and IG (CRPF).

It is for the first time that the state government has appointed an adviser on security.

State police officers said Gautam’s stand on anti-Naxalite operations would be worth watching.

“Integrity and toughness had been Gautam’s USP in his long police career. But he is not known as an expert in running the anti-Naxalite operations,” pointed out a senior IPS officer.