Sudeep Lakhtakia is new NSG chief

New Delhi, Jan 19 : The Central government on Friday appointed senior IPS officer Sudeep Lakhtakia as the new Director General (DG) of the National Security Guard (NSG).

The order was issued by the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The 1984-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer is currently serving as a Special Director General in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters in New Delhi.

He will take over from incumbent S.P. Singh who will retire from the post on January 31.

Lakhtakia will be at the top post of the elite counter-terror force till July next year, which is also his scheduled retirement.

Commandos of the NSG, which was raised as the federal contingency force to counter terrorists and hijack-like incidents in 1984, are based in five hubs across the country, apart from their main garrison in Gurugram's Manesar.

The NSG also provides personal security to most high-profile VIPs like Home Minister and some Chief Ministers.