Srinagar SSP Rakesh Balwal transferred to Manipur amid renewed violence

Rakesh Balwal has experience in dealing with terror-related cases

Senior Superintendent of Police in Srinagar, Rakesh Balwal, who has served in NIA and was part of the investigation team probing 2019 Pulwama terror attack and has experience in dealing with terror-related cases, has been “prematurely” re-transferred to strife torn Manipur amid renewed violence triggered by the death of two students.

The decision is in line with the Home Ministry’s suggestion, made around a month ago, that there should be more government representatives in Manipur to deal with the ongoing law and order issues.

“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,” read a notification.

Rakesh Balwal, IPS officer from the 2012 batch will be given a new posting in Manipur which has been on the boil since May 3, 2023 after a violent clashes broke out between two communities.

Balwal, is a resident of Udhampur in the Jammu region. He has served in the Manipur Police in various capacities, the last being Senior Superintendent of Police, Churachandpur in 2017. He has also served in Thoubal and Imphal.

In 2021, the IPS officer was appointed Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Srinagar. Before this, he had served as the Superintendent of Police, National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2018 and was part of the investigation team tasked with probing the 2019 Pulwama terror attack.

Fresh violence broke out in Manipur on Tuesday after the death of two students who had been missing since July. Following the incident, protests are being staged by the people, particularly students, in various parts of the state demanding justice for the students.

Following the fresh violence, the state government has once again suspended mobile internet service for 5 days from September 26 to avoid spreading of misinformation and rumours which can further aggravate the situation in the state.

Manipur police have now handed over the students’ death case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

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