Senior IPS Officer Rakesh Balwal Prematurely Deported to Manipur Cadre Amidst Escalating Violence

Rakesh Balwal, a senior superintendent of police in Srinagar with experience in managing cases involving terrorism, has been "prematurely" deported to the Manipur cadre in light of the recent violence that has exacerbated the already delicate situation in the northeastern state.

The IPS officer from the 2012 batch, who was transferred to the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre in December 2021, would be given a new posting in Manipur, where there have been ethnic hostilities since May of this year.

"The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for premature repatriation of Rakesh Balwal, IPS, from AGMUT cadre to Manipur cadre," a formal order stated.

The last position Balwal had with the Manipur police was senior superintendent of police in Churachandpur in 2017. Balwal is a citizen of Udhampur in Jammu. He has also been sent to Thobal and Imphal.

He assumed his position as SSP Srinagar during a period of intense terrorism in the city, which included attacks on police officers and the murder of minorities in Jammu & Kashmir.

After assuming control, Balwal concentrated on enhancing the law-and-order situation in the city, making sure that terrorist activity was almost completely eradicated, and guaranteeing that no attacks were carried out. In Srinagar, a Muharram parade was permitted on the streets for the first time in thirty years during his administration, while this year's Independence Day program allowed for public participation. During his presidency, international activities like the hosting of the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting were peacefully carried out.