SSP Srinagar shifted, new officer from Manipur cadre takes over
Srinagar: Carrying out changes after a series of terror attacks here, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday shifted out SSP of Srinagar city Sandeep Choudhary and replaced him with Rakesh Balwal, an IPS officer from Manipur cadre.
An official order to his effect was issued by the J&K administration.
Balwal, whose experience in Jammu and Kashmir is through his stint in the National Investigation Agency (NIA), is a 2012 batch IPS officer from Manipur who was sent on deputation to the AGMUT cadre in October for a period of three years.
He would be the first non-Jammu and Kashmir cadre officer to be posted in the city after the cadre was merged with the Assam, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre following the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh on August 5, 2012.
Balwal, who hails from Udhampur in Jammu region, was on deputation to the NIA for a little over three years as Superintendent of Police during which he was a part of teams that investigated many terror-related cases, including the 2019 Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed after a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed his car into the bus carrying them.
Choudhary, who is also 2012 batch IPS officer, was appointed SSP Srinagar in March this year.
There was no word about the shunting but officials in the know said that there had been many terror attacks within the city, which included killing of minorities like prominent chemist M L Bindroo, a woman principal from Sikh community and a teacher hailing from the Jammu region.
Choudhary has been posted as SSP Cyber Crime Investigation Centre for Excellence (CICE).
Another important posting made was of Lakshay Sharma, an IPS officer of 2016 batch from Manipur cadre, according to the order.
He was also sent on deputation to the AGMUT cadre (UT of J&K) for a period of three years in August. Sharma has been appointed the Superintendent of Police (South), a post which overlooks security of VVIP areas.
There has been a reshuffle of others officers from various districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The order further said that Javid Ahmed Koul, IPS, SSP Traffic City Srinagar, is transferred and posted as SO to ADGP, Traffic J&K with additional charge of the posts of DIG, Traffic, Jammu and DIG, Traffic, Kashmir.
Shridhar Patil, IPS, awaiting orders of posting upon modification of transfer on deputation to the Union territory of Ladakh, is posted as AIG (Tech) PHQ, against an available vacancy.
Dr. Vinod Kumar, IPS, SSP, Poonch, is transferred and posted as SSP, Udhampur. Sargun Shukla, IPS, SSP, Udhampur, is transferred and posted as SO to IGP Technical Services.
Abhishek Mahajan, IPS, awaiting orders of posting is posted as SP Samba.
Sheema Nabi Qasba IPS, SP Rajouri is transferred and posted as SP (Tech), CID Hqrs.
Lakshya Sharma, IPS, SP (Tech), CID Hqrs, is transferred and posted as SP South, Srinagar.
Mohita Sharma, IPS, SP North, Jammu, is transferred and posted as SP, Ramban.
Zahid Nasim Manhas, Commandant 1st Border Bn Jammu, is transferred and posted as SSP CID Hqrs. J&K.
Rajesh Kumar Sharma, SSP Samba, is transferred and posted as Commandant IR-22nd Bn.
Mohammad Aslam, SSP CID Hqrs. J&K, is transferred and posted as SSP Rajouri.
Mumtaz Ahmed, SSP, Doda, is transferred and posted as Commandant 1st Border Bn, Jammu.
Rohit Baskotra, SP CID, SB Jammu, is transferred and posted as SP, Poonch.
Arun Gupta, SP CICE, is transferred and posted as SP CID, SB Jammu.
Liaqat Ali, Addl. SP Poonch, is transferred and posted as SP APCR Kashmir, against an available vacancy.
Rakesh Kumar, SO to ADGP, Traffic J&K, is transferred and shall await further posting in PHQ.
Sanjay Kumar Bhagat, SO to IGP Technical Services, is transferred and posted as Commandant Women Battalion Kashmir, against an available vacancy.
Abdul Qayoom, Addl. SP Bhaderwah, is transferred and posted as SP Doda.
Rajinder Kumar Katoch, Commandant IR-22nd Bn., is transferred and posted as SO to DIG, JKS Range, against an available vacancy.
Muzaffar Ahmad Shah, Dy. Commandant. IR- 11th Bn., is transferred and posted as SP Traffic City Srinagar.
Sajad Ahmad Shah, SP South, Srinagar, is transferred and posted as Dy. Commandant, IR-11th Bn.
Irshad Hussain Rather, SP Hazratbal, Srinagar, is transferred and posted as Addl. SP Handwara.
Mashkoor Ahmed Zargar, Addl. SP Handwara, is transferred and posted as SP Hazratbal, Srinagar.
Pushkar Nath Tikoo, Dy. Commandant IR-5th Bn. is transferred and posted as Addl. SP CID (CI), Jammu.
Kulbir Chand Handa, Addl. SP CID (CI), Jammu, is transferred and posted as SP North, Jammu. (with PTI inputs)
