SRINAGAR, July 23: Soon after taking over as the head of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Director General Ashok Prasad called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday afternoon and discussed various matters relating to his 1.2 lakh strong police force.

Ashok Prasad, a senior officer of the Intelligence Bureau, was recently appointed the new Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police and took over his new job today.

56-year-old Prasad, an Additional Director in the IB and currently posted in Srinagar, had handled Kashmir desk in the country’s internal intelligence agency in early 1990s.

A 1979-batch IPS officer from Andhra Pradesh cadre, Prasad assumes charge relieving Special Director General K Rajendra who was in-charge till now.

“I will like to consolidate the gains made by the police force and lead them to make it the most modern force in the country,” Prasad, who was posted during crucial period of 1999-2001 in Kashmir, said.

A recipient of Police Medal in 1999 and President’s Police Medal for distinguished service in 2006, Prasad brings with him an experience of over two decades in the central agency.The post was earlier held by Kuldeep Khoda who retired on May 31 this year.