The Uttar Pradesh government has transferred 18 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers across key policing units, including the Special Security Force (SSF), Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and regional intelligence branches.
The latest changes come two days after a major administrative exercise on September 20 involving 35 IPS and 34 IAS officers. The new reshuffle was carried out on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections.
Under the order issued by the state administration, officers serving at the Director General of Police headquarters, commissionerates and specialised units will take charge of their new responsibilities with immediate effect. The government said the changes were intended to improve departmental administration and reinforce important policing branches.
Dr Satish Kumar (IPS-RR-2013), who was attached to DGP Headquarters in Lucknow, has been appointed Commandant of the 1st Battalion SSF, Lucknow. Sanjeev Suman (IPS-RR-2014), also attached to DGP Headquarters, will serve as Superintendent of Police at the Uttar Pradesh State Institute of Forensic Sciences (UPSIFS), Lucknow.
Sameer Saurabh (IPS-SPS-2016) has been transferred from SP, CID, Lucknow, to Commandant of the 27th Battalion PAC, Sitapur. Ashutosh Dwivedi (IPS-SPS-2016) has moved from SP, APTC, Sitapur, to SP, Regional Intelligence, Ayodhya.
Anand Kumar-II (IPS-SPS-2017) has been shifted from SP, Regional Intelligence, Bareilly, to SP, CID, Lucknow. Sanjay Rai (IPS-SPS-2018) will move from SP, Regional Intelligence, Ayodhya, to SP, Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Lucknow.
Shashi Shekhar Singh has been transferred from the ATS in Lucknow to Commandant of the 11th Battalion PAC, Sitapur. Vanshraj Singh Yadav has been appointed Commandant of the 3rd Battalion SSF, Prayagraj, while Rajkumar and Alok Kumar Sharma have been posted as SPs in the Vigilance Establishment.
Preetibala Gupta will take charge as SP, ATS, Lucknow. Kamal Kishore has been posted as SP, EOW, Lucknow, and Devesh Kumar Sharma as SP, Food Cell, Lucknow.
Rahul Mithas has been reassigned as SP, Technical Services, Lucknow. Dr Krishna Gopal has moved from the 5th Battalion SSF, Saharanpur, to SP, PTC, Moradabad.
Shoeb Iqbal has been transferred from ACO Headquarters to SP, Traffic Directorate, Lucknow. Pavitra Mohan Tripathi has been appointed SP, RTC, Chunar, Mirzapur, while Mahesh Singh Attri has moved from PTS, Moradabad, to SP, Regional Intelligence, Bareilly.
The reshuffle assumes importance in the context of preparations for the state elections. Administrative changes of this nature are generally undertaken before an election cycle, with officers placed in important areas such as Ayodhya, Sitapur, Prayagraj and Bareilly to oversee law-and-order arrangements during politically sensitive campaigns.
Once the Election Commission of India announces the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect immediately. Its provisions restrict state governments from transferring or promoting administrative and police officers without the explicit approval of the ECI.
The commission assumes direct oversight of key law-enforcement personnel during this period to safeguard political neutrality. Completing the transfers before the election dates are announced enables the state administration to establish its command structure in intelligence, armed battalions such as the PAC and SSF, and specialised investigation units without seeking clearance under the Model Code of Conduct.
Seven major state elections—in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh—are scheduled to be held in 2027.
Follow us
