KATHMANDU, Feb 15: Nepal Police Additional Inspector General Rabindra Pratap Shah, who ranked number one among incumbent AIGs in terms of seniority and was unhappy at the appointment of his ´junior´ as chief of Nepal Police, has taken one month’s leave starting Friday.Sources at Home Ministry said Shah took leave on the day when newly-appointed Nepal Police Chief Ramesh Chand Thakuri received a letter from the ministry to work as acting chief of Nepal Police.
A meeting of the cabinet last Wednesday had decided to promote AIG Thakuri to Inspector General, breaking all past seniority precedents. Thakuri is replacing Inspector General of Police (IGP) Hem Bahadur Gurung with effect from February 16. [break]
According to police officials close to Shah, he was almost certain that he would be appointed police chief until the cabinet decision on Wednesday.
Both Thakuri and Shah had started their police career as Inspector in 1982 and were in neck to neck competition to succeed IGP Gurung. Shah ranked ahead of Thakuri at the time of becoming Inspector and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), while Thakuri had ranked ahead of Shah at the time of becoming Superintendent of Police (SP) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP). Again, Shah was in the first rank during his service as Deputy Inspector General and AIG.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Govinda Prasad Kusum is presenting insignia to the newly-appointed police chief Thakuri on Tuesday at the Home Ministry.
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