In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has appointed a new Director General of Police (DGP) for the Union Territory of Ladakh. The changes, ordered on Friday, January 3, 2026, involve key postings of senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers.
Key Appointments and Transfers
The MHA has named 1996-batch IPS officer Mukesh Singh as the new police chief of Ladakh. He takes over the reins from Shiv Darshan Singh Jamwal, a 1995-batch officer, who has been transferred and appointed as the DGP of Arunachal Pradesh. The orders were issued with immediate effect by MHA Director Anish Muraleedharan.
Mukesh Singh, who was repatriated from central deputation, is currently posted with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). He brings with him a wealth of experience, having previously worked with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Jammu & Kashmir Police. Originally from the Jammu and Kashmir cadre, his cadre was merged with the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories) cadre following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Prior to his ITBP posting, he served as the Inspector General and later as the Additional Director General of Police for the Jammu range.
The Chain of Postings
The reshuffle created a cascade of movements. Shiv Darshan Singh Jamwal will replace Anand Mohan in Arunachal Pradesh. Mohan, a 1994-batch IPS officer, has been transferred to New Delhi and asked to report for duty. He is likely to be accommodated within the Delhi Police framework.
The MHA order explicitly stated that the postings of the three AGMUT cadre IPS officers were approved by the competent authority and are effective immediately until further orders.
Context and Background
This major police reassignment comes months after a period of unrest in Ladakh. In September 2025, prominent Ladakhi activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA). His detention on September 26 followed alleged violent protests in Ladakh on September 24, which resulted in four fatalities from police firing and injuries to approximately 50 individuals.
A day after Wangchuk was moved to a jail in Jodhpur, the then Ladakh DGP, Shiv Darshan Singh Jamwal, made strong statements regarding the activist. Jamwal cited Wangchuk's public speeches, including references to the Arab Spring and events in neighbouring countries, as instigatory. He also raised questions about foreign funding and alleged connections, mentioning the arrest of a Pakistani person of interest and Wangchuk's participation in an event organised by Pakistan's Dawn newspaper.
The recent transfer of Jamwal from Ladakh is being viewed in administrative circles as a routine rotation of officers, though its timing has drawn attention due to the preceding events.
The appointment of Mukesh Singh is expected to bring a fresh perspective to policing in the strategically important Union Territory. His extensive background in central armed police forces, investigation agencies, and regional police administration will be crucial in maintaining law and order and security in Ladakh.
