Srinagar police chief Rakesh Balwal, who has expertise in handling terrorism-related cases, has been "prematurely" reinstated to the force in Manipur, where a fresh scene of violence has escalated an already tense situation.
The 2012 batch IPS officer, who was transferred to Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territory (AGMUT) in December 2021, will be posted in Manipur as he joins a state that has witnessed clashes between the Meitei majority. and Kuk tribal communities since May this year.
"The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the Home Ministry's proposal for early demobilization of Rakesh Balwal (IPS) from AGMUT Corps to Manipur Corps," an official order said.
A resident of Udhampur in Jammu district, Balwal has served in various capacities in the Manipura Police, most recently as Superintendent of Police, Churacanpur in 2017. He has also served in the Thobal and Imphal districts. He assumed charge of SSP Srinagar at a time when the city witnessed many terrorist activities, including killings of members of minorities and attacks on policemen.
After taking office, Balwal focused on improving the legal situation in the city, ensuring that the presence of terrorists was close to zero and that there were no attacks on minorities or security forces.
During his tenure, the Muharram procession was allowed on the roads after three decades, and public participation in Independence Day events this year. International events such as hosting the G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting went smoothly during his tenure as the city's police chief.
Balwal received the Union Home Minister's Medal, the Chief of Army Staff's commendation, and a plaque from the CRPF Director General for the investigation. During his tenure, Miwaiz Umer Farooq was recently released from house arrest and allowed to offer Friday prayers at the historic Jama Masjid after more than four years.
Before taking over as Srinagar SSP, Balwal spent three-and-a-half years as Superintendent of Police in the NIA and was part of the team that investigated the 2019 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
On June 1, Rajiv Singh, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre, was appointed as the new Director General of Police, in Manipur.
More than 180 people have been killed and several hundred injured since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3, when a "Tribal Solidarity March" was organized in the hills.
Fresh student-led violence erupted in the state capital on Tuesday after photos of the bodies of two youths who went missing in July went viral on social media. Violent protests continued till Thursday morning when a mob vandalized the deputy commissioner's office in Imphal West and burnt two four-wheelers, officials said.
Protesters clashed with security personnel in Uripok, Yaiskuli, Sagolbandi and Tera areas on Wednesday night, prompting soldiers to fire several rounds of tear gas to control the situation, they said.