Ajit Lal appointed MHA’s NEadviser, replaces AK Mishra

Retired IPS officer Ajit Lal, a 1974-batch Himachal Pradesh cadre officer, is set to take over as the Ministry of Home Affairs’ North East adviser, replacing A.K. Mishra, whose tenure ended last week, senior officials told ThePrint.
Mishra, a 1987-batch Rajasthan cadre officer, was closely involved in tripartite talks with Kuki-Zo insurgent groups under Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, as well as in the ongoing Naga peace talks. Lal will now assume charge of these responsibilities.
The appointment comes at a crucial juncture as the Centre continues its political dialogue with SoO groups, who have been pressing for a Union Territory with a separate legislature. The SoO pact was extended last September for a further five years.
Although an official announcement is awaited, Mishra reportedly informed participants at a February 4 meeting in New Delhi- attended by Kuki-Zo representatives and senior Manipur government officials- that his term had concluded and Lal would be taking over.
Lal is familiar with the Northeast, having briefly been associated with Naga talks in 2014. He retired as chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee in July 2014 and earlier served as special director in the Intelligence Bureau, handling insurgency-affected regions.