Anurag Sharma appointed first police chief of Telangana

The Telangana government on Friday appointed Indian Police Service officer Anurag Sharma as the first regular Director General of Police (DGP) of the state.

Sharma was serving as DGP in-charge since June last year when Telangana was formed.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao picked Sharma from a panel of three names shortlisted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Sharma was preferred over A.K. Khan, director general of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), and Aruna Bahugana, director of SVP National Police Academy.

The UPSC last week suggested three names from a panel of six Indian Police Service (IPS) officers sent by the state government.

Thanking the chief minister, Sharma said he would work to fulfil the responsibility entrusted to him. He said public cooperation to police was a must to ensure peace and law and order in Telengana.

A 1982-batch IPS officer, Sharma began his career as superintendent of police of Ranga Reddy district in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh.

He has worked in several key posts, including police commissioner of Hyderabad, chief of anti-Maoist force Greyhounds, Deputy Inspector General and Special Inspector General of Intelligence.

Sharma, who holds a Master's in botany from Rajasthan University, received advanced professional training in Britain, Israel and the US in security, intelligence and policing.

On return to the state after serving in the Central Industrial Security Force and National Industrial Security Academy, Sharma held the coveted posts of chief of Greyhounds and commissioner of police before he was appointed the DGP in-[charge.

He has been decorated with a host of medals and honours for his meritorious service, like President's Police Medal in 1998, Antarik Surakha Seva Padak in 2004, and President's Medal for distinguished service in 2007.