New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs announced on Thursday the transfer of senior police official Vijay Kumar to Delhi under the AGMUT cadre. Vijay Kumar, an IPS officer of the 1997 batch, has been appointed as the Special Commissioner of Delhi Police. His transfer from Jammu and Kashmir to the Delhi segment of the AGMUT cadre is effective immediately and will remain until further orders.
During his tenure as Inspector General and Additional Director General of Police in Kashmir, Kumar focused extensively on counter-terrorism operations. He played a significant role in the fight against terrorism in sensitive districts like Pulwama, Awantipora, Kulgam, and Anantnag. His service record includes expertise in anti-terrorist, anti-Maoist, and law-and-order operations both within and outside Jammu and Kashmir.
Kumar, a native of Saharsa district in Bihar, holds a Master’s degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. He stands out as the only IPS officer from the former Jammu and Kashmir cadre to have served in the Special Operations Group (SOG), the anti-terror wing of J&K Police, in southern Kashmir.
Notably, under Kumar's leadership, 602 terrorists were neutralized during his tenure as Kashmir Police Chief. His strategic approach to counter-terrorism also led to a significant reduction in local support for terrorist groups and a drastic decline in youth recruitment into terrorism. The number of local terrorists dropped to an all-time low of 27 in the Kashmir Valley, and new measures curbed the glamorisation of terrorists. Moreover, the region witnessed years free from hartals, street violence, and stone-pelting. Kumar also successfully oversaw an incident-free G20 summit in Kashmir and the peaceful conduct of the Muharram procession in Srinagar after 43 years, as well as the Rahul Gandhi padyatra in highly sensitive areas.
Kumar's career has earned him numerous accolades, including four gallantry medals from the Central government, two gallantry awards from the Jammu and Kashmir government, distinguished and meritorious service medals, and the Election Commission of India's National Award for his role as Chief Force Coordinator of CAPFs during assembly elections in nine states in 2018.
BI Bureau
