‘Singham’ IPS Ajay Pal Sharma deputed to West Bengal for 5 years

The senior IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma has been transferred to West Bengal on a five-year deputation by the Union Home Ministry. He has been widely recognized as an encounter specialist, with a background as a dentist before joining the IPS. 

He is a 2011-batch officer from Uttar Pradesh, who got deployed in the TMC stronghold South 24 Parganas, Sharma visited TMC Candidate Jehangir Khan’s home over voter intimidation complaints. He became a talking point during the West Bengal assembly elections after a video of him issuing stern warning to a political functionary went viral.

Khan reportedly  addressed the threat by alluding to the Telugu action film ‘Pushpa’ and the Bollywood movie ‘Singham’ and said he would not allow “BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-appointed” police officers to threaten voters.

TMC’s Mahua Moitra reportedly asked Sharma to be  little careful, accusing the IPS officer of acting contrary to the role prescribed to him.

This move is being seen as significant administrative posting due to the officer’s policing record and the sensitive landscape of the state. Both BJP and Election Commission reportedly say that Sharma is there as an ‘observer’. Although local TMC leaders and others are reportedly questioning Sharma’s past record regarding encounters.