Shillong, Sept. 22: Assam police additional director-general (homeguards) N. Ramachandran, empanelled in the list of probables for the post of the new Meghalaya (DGP) is now tipped to be the front-runner for the post of director of the Special Protection Group (SPG) in Delhi.

Current SPG director B.V. Wanchoo will retire on October 31, an official source said here today.

The name of N. Ramachandran is doing the rounds for the post of the next SPG director, as he had served the organisation for more than 12 years in the capacity of SP, DIG and IG, SPG.

Wanchoo has been holding the post since 2004.

If appointed as SPG director, Ramachandran (1978 batch) will get to work with Wanchoo for a year, as he will retire in October 2012.

The Union home ministry will prefer Ramachandran for the post, considering his previous experience with the SPG, the source added.

There were reports after the first meeting of the state security commission on August 11 that Ramachandran would be considered for the post of the new Meghalaya DGP.

However, the move of the Union home ministry to consider the name of Ramachandran for the post of SPG director will put the state security commission in a dilemma to decide on the next Meghalaya DGP.

The meeting in this regard was to be held shortly.

At present, Prem Singh is the only acting DGP of Meghalaya.

There was criticism from various quarters against the move of the state government to appoint Ramachandran as the next DGP of Meghalaya, as he had not served in the state earlier.

Ramachandran was also junior to the police officials, who were empanelled by the state security commission.

Other names of senior police officials to be considered by the commission included, Kulbir Krishan (1976 batch), Subhash Goswami and acting Meghalaya DGP, Prem Singh (both 1977 batch) and Jayanto Narayan Choudhury (1978 batch).

Earlier after the first meeting of the state security commission, one of its members and the Opposition leader Conrad Sangma said all the five empanelled officers were eligible for the post of the police chief.

However, it would be ideal for the government to select an officer, who had more experience about the affairs of the state.

According to Conrad Sangma, a police officer, who had some knowledge about the state and who worked in the state earlier should be given preference as the next DGP.

Chief minister Mukul Sangma had earlier said the appointment would be carried out soon, adhering to the provisions of the new Meghalaya Police Act.