The Assam government has officially appointed Harmeet Singh as the permanent Director General of Police (DGP) with immediate effect, formalizing his leadership role after serving as the in-charge DGP since February 1, a senior Home Department official confirmed on Tuesday.
A notification regarding Singh’s appointment was issued on Monday, elevating the 1992-batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre IPS officer to the state’s top police position. Singh has been serving as the acting police chief since GP Singh departed to take over as Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
In addition to his new role as permanent DGP, Harmeet Singh will continue to hold the additional responsibilities of Director General of Civil Defence and Commandant General of Home Guards, maintaining continuity in these critical security domains.
Singh brings impressive credentials to the position, including a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and a Master’s degree in History from Punjab University, Chandigarh. This strong academic foundation complements his extensive field experience, providing him with a nuanced understanding of Assam’s complex socio-political landscape.
Throughout his career, Singh has developed expertise in several specialized areas including counter-terrorism, conflict resolution, cyber security, de-radicalization, child protection, and emergency response. He is widely recognized for promoting technology-driven and citizen-centric policing approaches.
As Commissioner of Police in Guwahati before his elevation to DGP, Singh spearheaded several innovative initiatives that transformed public engagement with law enforcement. These include the “Bohemian Facstody” social media campaign to combat fake news, “The Think Campaign” for cyber safety awareness, and the “Nagrik Mitra” forum for addressing citizen grievances, particularly during the pandemic.
His contributions to modernizing Assam Police include implementing the Intelligent Traffic Management System and digitalization of police records under the Guwahati SMART City project. These efforts reflect his commitment to leveraging technology to enhance public safety and police efficiency.
Singh’s distinguished service has earned him numerous national honors, including the Police Medal for Gallantry, President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service, Ati Utkrisht Seva Padak, Antrik Seva Suraksha Padak, Kathin Seva Medal, and Police Antrik Suraksha Seva Padak for the North East Region.
Before becoming DGP, Singh held several key positions within Assam Police, including Special Director General, Commissioner of Police for Guwahati, Director of Fire & Emergency Services, and Additional DGP overseeing Security, Administration, Modernization & Logistics, and Border operations. He has also served in the Special Protection Group (SPG), adding to his diverse policing experience.
Known as a reformist and modernizer within the police force, Singh has articulated a vision to make Assam Police one of the top five state police forces in India, with an ultimate goal of becoming the country’s premier law enforcement agency. His leadership philosophy emphasizes making policing accessible, people-friendly, and technology-enabled, with a focus on ensuring public safety, transparency, and efficient grievance redressal.
