Who is 'Singham' Ajay Sharma? Encounter specialist stirs storm in Bengal

The entry of 'encounter specialist' Ajay Pal Sharma, an IPS officer from UP, in Bengal has created a flutter. A video of him warning supporters of a TMC candidate has gone viral. Here's the story of Ajay Sharma, who began his career as a dentist before turning into a tough and no-nonsense police officer.

In Short

• Punjab-born Ajay Sharma built a reputation as tough cop
• Was initially a dentist before entering the IPS
• Has led several high-risk operations against UP criminal gangs

The high-octane Bengal elections, already grabbing attention due to the record deployment of central forces, found a new controversy after the Election Commission deployed hardline IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma, known as Uttar Pradesh's 'Singham', as observer in the sensitive South 24 Parganas. Sparks flew between the ruling TMC and the BJP after a video went viral showing the "encounter specialist" warning supporters of a TMC candidate, Jehangir Khan, for allegedly intimidating voters. It has generated considerable interest around the 2011-batch tough IPS officer.

Born in Punjab's Ludhiana, Ajay Sharma is known for his tough and no-nonsense policing style. In fact, it is this "dabang" reputation that landed him in Bengal's South 24 Parganas, a sensitive region considered a stronghold of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress. South 24 Parganas has a 36% Muslim population.

DENTIST TO ENCOUNTER SPECIALIST

Currently, Sharma is serving as Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) in Prayagraj. Regarded as one of the most dynamic police officers in Uttar Pradesh, he has led several high-risk operations during his postings in Shamli, Noida, Jaunpur, and Rampur. He is said to have carried out dozens of encounters as part of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's vision of a "crime-free" UP. It earned him the reputation of an "encounter specialist".

However, what many don't know is that before becoming a hardline IPS officer, Sharma was initially a dentist. His younger brother was a doctor.

Both brothers were academically brilliant. Thus, after being persuaded by their parents, the brothers began preparing for UPSC in 2008. Both got selected. While Sharma joined the police service, his brother became an IAS officer. Both are posted in Uttar Pradesh.

HOW AJAY PAL BECOME UP'S 'SINGHAM'

He first grabbed attention in 2018 during his posting in Rampur. Sharma was hot on the trail of a man who raped and murdered a six-year-old girl. While trying to nab the accused, a brief encounter took place. The accused suffered three bullet injuries and was eventually caught. The incident brought Sharma significant recognition.

That year, he was among the several police officers felicitated by Adityanath. Sharma was then promoted to the SSP rank and transferred to Noida. Not just criminal gangs, the 41-year-old officer is known to keep a watch on his own force.

During his posting in Noida, Sharma received a tip-off of a purported bribe rate list among police officials. He decided to take matters into his own hands and conducted a surprise inspection.

One night, he donned plainclothes and hopped into an autorickshaw and went around the streets of Noida and Greater Noida, according to a report in The Print. He caught a sub-inspector red-handed and suspended him. There are several such stories in WhatsApp forwards among the UP police circles of Sharma.

In 2021, in an interview, Sharma claimed at least nine encounter deaths. He also claimed to have injured around 190 alleged criminals in other encounters, The Print reported.

He had then said there was "nothing to like about" the "encounter specialist" tag. "These encounters did not happen by will; it was just chance," Sharma said.

CORRUPTION CHARGES

However, his career has not been spotless. Apart from complaints of staged encounters, there have also been allegations of corruption against Sharma.

An encounter in Shamli of an alleged criminal named Akbar saw the opposition raise questions in 2020. The Samajwadi Party had called it a "fake encounter". Questions were also raised a year before, following the death of a suspected criminal named Sabbir and a police constable during an encounter.

Moreover, the Trinamool Congress claimed that Ajay Pal was booted out of Rampur in 2020, where he was SP, after he and five fellow IPS officers were found to be involved in a cash-for-postings racket. The FIR was lodged by a woman who accused him of marrying her and hiding his multiple affairs.

He was also previously booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act in Meerut for allegedly lobbying for his transfer and posting. However, the cases against Sharma have not progressed.

A video shared by TMC MP Mahua Moitra on X purportedly shows Sharma dancing with women in a room. Moitra said the video was real and not AI-generated.

Despite the allegations, Sharma enjoys a strong social media following. A Facebook page in his name has nearly 1,40,000 followers.

AJAY PAL'S BENGAL ENTRY CREATES STIR

With this reputation and history, Sharma's deployment in Bengal was bound to create a flutter. Within days of his arrival, Sharma made his presence felt - touring sensitive pockets in South 24 Parganas, and reviewing arrangements ahead of the second phase.

South 24 Parganas is considered the bastion of TMC MP and Mamata's nephew Abhishek Banerjee. The deployment of Sharma was bound to irk the TMC.

On Sunday, Sharma reached Falta after allegedly receiving complaints that the henchmen of the TMC candidate, Jehangir Khan, were "threatening" voters in the constituency. When Sharma reached the spot, Khan was not there.

A video has gone viral showing Sharma warning his supporters. "Tell him, we'll deal properly with him if his men continue to threaten... don't cry or regret it then," the IPS officer is heard saying.

He also visited the residence of Jehangir, a close aide of Abhishek Banerjee. Unable to find him there, Sharma issued a stark warning to his family members. "Tell Jahangir to stay within the rules, or we will take strict action against him," he is heard saying in another video.

As the videos went viral, the Trinamool Congress came out with a blunt warning of its own, asserting that Bengal is not Uttar Pradesh.

"A word of caution to Yogi's favourite trigger-happy cowboy: step out of line, take matters into your own hands... and you will pay the price, democratically, but unforgivingly," the TMC tweeted.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also questioned the deployment of Sharma, whom he labelled a corrupt "BJP agent". "Didi is here and will remain here," Akhilesh said, firmly backing Mamata Banerjee in the Bengal polls.

"We will neither let them escape nor go underground. They will be tracked down, brought out, and punished under the law," Akhilesh tweeted on Ajay Sharma.

The posting of Sharma in Bengal and his manoeuvres have emerged as a major flashpoint a day ahead of voting in the second phase.

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