Senior IPS officer Ashok Prasad appointed special secretary in Ministry of Home Affairs

NEW DELHI: Senior IPS officer Ashok Prasad has been appointed as the new Special Secretary of Home Ministry's crucial Internal Security division, a post which was vacant after Prakash Mishra was appointed as head of CRPF.

A 1979-batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, Prasad was at present posted as Special Director in Intelligence Bureau.

The name of Prasad, who was earlier posted as Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, was cleared by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The order said Prasad's appointment will take effect from the date of his joining the post and up to the date of his superannuation in January next year or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

A recipient of Police Medal in 1999 and President's Police Medal for distinguished service in 2006, Prasad brings with him experience of over two decades in the central agency.

The Internal Security division deals with police, law and order and rehabilitation besides analysing threats emerging from terror, Maoists and other anti-national groups.