Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Government has announced the appointment of senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Arun Dev Gautam as the state’s new Director General of Police (DGP), following the retirement of IPS Ashok Juneja. Gautam, a 1992-batch IPS officer, brings over three decades of experience in counter-insurgency and crisis management, which is crucial for a state grappling with Maoist insurgency.
A native of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Gautam began his career in the Madhya Pradesh cadre before opting for Chhattisgarh after the state’s bifurcation in 2000. He has served as Superintendent of Police (SP) in six conflict-prone districts, including Korba, Rajnandgaon, and Bastar.
Gautam played a key role in restoring order in Rajnandgaon after the 2009 Naxal attack. In 2013, he was instrumental in securing the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, held months after the Jhiram Valley massacre. His efforts contributed to a higher voter turnout and a peaceful electoral process.
Throughout his career, Gautam has been felicitated with multiple prestigious awards, including the United Nations Medal for his service in Kosovo (2002), the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service (2010), and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service (2018). His international exposure and hands-on experience in conflict zones make him a strategic choice for Chhattisgarh’s evolving security challenges.
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