IPS Anurag Sharma appointed as first DGP of Telangana

Hyderabad:  Senior IPS officer Anurag Sharma took charge as head of the police force of Telangana state on Monday.

He was posted as DGP (Coordination), and given full additional charge of director-general of police.

Mr Sharma has worked in several key posts connected with anti-Naxal operations, and was also on deputation with the Central Industrial Security Force.

He has had exposure in both urban and rural policing after he joined the IPS cadre in 1982.

Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Sharma said that his top priority would be to maintain law and order and ensure security in Hyderabad and Cyberabad police commissionerate areas.

Thanking Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for appointing him as DGP Mr Sharma said, “I have to take stock of the situation regarding bifurcation in the department, and begin the work of reorganisation of special units like the Crime Investigation Department (CID)."

"I have to prioritise staff for work in Telangana. We will be working in coordination with the Andhra Pradesh police and the Andhra DGP.”

He added, “We are ready to tackle the Maoists. We will be doing better policing and will try to reduce crime. We will work with team spirit. We will implement best practices to bring down stress in the force.”

Mr Anurag Sharma has held several sensitive posts like Superintendent of Police of Ranga Reddy and Mahabubnagar districts, Group Commander-Operations of Greyhounds, DCP of Hyderabad Old City and DIG and Special Inspector General of Intelligence.

He holds a Master’s degree in Botany from the University of Rajasthan and a post graduate Diploma in Human Resources Management from LIBA in Chennai.

He has been trained abroad in hostage negotiation. He was on Central deputation in CISF and served as director of National Industrial Security Academy.

He has also won the President’s Police Medal, Aantrik Suraksha Seva Padak. He was the chief of Greyhounds till 2010 and later took over as Commissioner of Police of the city.