Manipur new DGP Mukesh Singh takes charge, vows impartial policing
Synopsis
Manipur has a new police chief — and his first words were a pointed call for constitutional policing and inter-agency unity. With at least 260 lives lost since May 2023 and thousands still displaced, IPS veteran Mukesh Singh's counter-insurgency credentials and his stress on impartiality signal a deliberate recalibration of the state's security approach.
Key Takeaways
Mukesh Singh , a 1996-batch IPS (AGMUT cadre) officer, assumed charge as Manipur DGP on 2 June 2025 at Police Headquarters, Imphal .
He stressed professionalism, constitutional adherence, inter-agency coordination , and impartiality at his first briefing with senior officers.
Singh succeeds Rajiv Singh , who was appointed Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat on 21 May .
The ACC approved Mukesh Singh's inter-cadre deputation to Manipur for three years .
Manipur's ethnic conflict, which began on 3 May 2023 , has claimed at least 260 lives and displaced thousands across hill and valley districts.
Singh previously served as DGP of Ladakh and held multiple postings in Jammu and Kashmir during periods of active insurgency.
Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Mukesh Singh assumed charge as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Manipur on Monday, 2 June 2025, pledging to strengthen inter-agency coordination and uphold strict professionalism and impartiality in policing — a message aimed squarely at a state still grappling with the aftermath of prolonged ethnic violence.
Key Priorities Outlined at First Briefing
Shortly after a ceremonial guard of honour at the Police Headquarters (PHQ) at Mantripukhri, Imphal, Singh convened an introductory meeting with senior officers of Manipur Police. According to a police official, he discussed policing priorities centred on adherence to the Constitution of India, the rule of law, and unbiased conduct in dealings with the public.
'He discussed key policing priorities and emphasised professionalism, adherence to the Constitution of India and the rule of law, coordination with sister agencies, and impartiality and neutrality in the discharge of duties towards the public,' the official said.
Who Is Mukesh Singh
Mukesh Singh is a 1996-batch IPS officer of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories) cadre. A B.Tech graduate in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, he built much of his operational career in Jammu and Kashmir, serving as Superintendent of Police in Reasi, Pulwama, Poonch and Jammu during periods of heightened militancy and insurgency. Most recently, he served as DGP of Ladakh, a post he assumed on 15 January 2026.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved his inter-cadre deputation to Manipur for a period of three years.
Leadership Transition at a Critical Juncture
Singh succeeds Rajiv Singh, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre, who was appointed Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat on 21 May. Rajiv Singh had taken charge of Manipur Police during one of the most turbulent periods in the state's recent history — following the outbreak of ethnic violence on 3 May 2023, triggered by a 'Tribal Solidarity March' in the hill districts protesting the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
The conflict has since claimed at least 260 lives, displaced thousands of residents, and severely disrupted normal life across both the hill and valley districts of the state.
What the Change Signals
The appointment of an officer with a strong counter-insurgency background in Jammu and Kashmir is widely seen as a deliberate choice by the Centre at a time when security normalisation remains elusive in Manipur. Notably, this is the second DGP-level change in the state since the ethnic unrest began, underscoring the Centre's continued search for a formula that can rebuild public trust alongside restoring order.
With Mukesh Singh now at the helm, attention will focus on whether his emphasis on inter-agency coordination and constitutional policing translates into measurable improvements in civilian confidence — particularly among displaced communities waiting to return home.
Point of View
Not just in operational outcomes. The real accountability question is whether this leadership change comes with a revised operational mandate from the Centre or is simply another personnel rotation while the underlying political settlement remains unresolved.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the new DGP of Manipur?
Mukesh Singh, a 1996-batch IPS officer of the AGMUT cadre, is the new Director General of Police of Manipur. He assumed charge on 2 June 2025 at the Police Headquarters in Imphal, succeeding Rajiv Singh.
Why was there a change in Manipur's police chief?
Outgoing DGP Rajiv Singh was appointed Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat on 21 May, necessitating a leadership change. The transition comes as the state continues efforts to restore peace following ethnic violence that began in May 2023.
What did Mukesh Singh say at his first briefing?
Singh emphasised professionalism, adherence to the Constitution of India and the rule of law, coordination with sister law-enforcement agencies, and impartiality in dealings with the public. He addressed senior Manipur Police officers at the Police Headquarters, Mantripukhri.
What is Mukesh Singh's professional background?
Singh is a B.Tech graduate from IIT Delhi and a 1996-batch IPS officer. He served in multiple counter-insurgency postings in Jammu and Kashmir — including as Superintendent of Police in Reasi, Pulwama, Poonch, and Jammu — and most recently as DGP of Ladakh since January 2026.
What is the current situation in Manipur?
Manipur has been in the grip of ethnic conflict since 3 May 2023, when violence erupted following a 'Tribal Solidarity March' protesting the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The conflict has claimed at least 260 lives and displaced thousands across the state's hill and valley districts.
