R P Sharma new Police Commissioner
Dr Rajendra Prasad Sharma, a 1986 batch IPS officer of the State, was on Monday appointed as the new Police Commissioner of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack. He will succeed Sunil Roy. The brutal murder of a realtor here greeted Sharma on his first day in office.
Sharma was on central deputation in New Delhi since 2004. Before the new posting, he was serving as an ‘anti-corruption and crime prevention expert’ with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). He joined UNODC in August 2012. He was responsible for providing advice and technical assistance on implementation of ‘United Nations Convention against Corruption’.
He earlier served in Narcotics Control Bureau and National Security Guard. Sharma was SP, Balasore, and DIG (central range) before leaving on central deputation.
An MBBS by qualification and a law degree holder, Dr Sharma comes with experience of excellent national and international postings during his deputation.
Previously, he was IG (Headquarters) with the prestigious National Security Guard from 2009 to 2011.
Dr Sharma served with the UN in its peacekeeping mission in Liberia as well as the drug administration. During early days of his career in the State, Dr Sharma was SP of Kalahandi and Balasore and DIG of the Central Range. He also worked with the Narcotics Control Bureau.
The senior IPS officer, who received training at the elite National Defence College, will assume charge on Tuesday.
It will be a testing time for the new police commissioner to curb the rampant gunrunning in Bhubaneswar. Spurt in theft, snatching, burglary and swindling cases has also left police in a spot. Though police claimed to have busted several robber gangs and recovered booty, thugs continue to cock a snook at the law-enforcing agency by striking with impunity at regular intervals. Situation is no better in Cuttack as crimes like murder, firing, extortion, highway robbery and burglary continue unabated.
Outgoing police commissioner Roy, who drew flak for his alleged poor rapport with public, termed his tenure as ‘satisfactory’. “I am satisfied for performing my duty with diligence during my tenure,” said Roy, who had replaced B K Sharma on April 4, 2012. Roy is the new ADG, Human Rights Protection Cell.
