Somesh Goyal appointed Himachal Pradesh DGP

Shimla: Somesh Goyal, a 1984-batch IPS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the state's director general of police (DGP).

He replaces Sanjay Kumar who has been appointed as director general of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

The senior-most police officer in the state, Goyal was presently posted as DGP (Prisons).

Goyal said that improving the delivery system, projecting a people-friendly image of police, rooting out drug menace and ensuring safety of women would be his main concerns.

Himachal Pradesh being a key tourist destination, easing congestion to prevent traffic jams would also be his main focus.

He said the schemes and programmes for modernisation of police would also be speeded up.

A recipient of the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Services, the Kathin Sewa Medal, the High Altitude Medal, the Internal Security Medal and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service, Goyal had also been conferred the Tinka Tinka Award for best prison management for 2016.

A trained commando, Goyal had worked with the Black Cats (National Security Guard), a trained special protection group responsible for the security of the prime minister.

He has also served in Kashmir and West Bengal as DIG and inspector general in the Border Security Force.

 He has also served in the SSB and provided direction to its operations in Kashmir and Naxal-affected areas such as Chhattisgarh and Bihar.