Assam Mourns Death of Former 'Top Cop' Khagen Sharma

Guwahati, October 26, 2019:

Former Assam DGP Khagen, who is credited with bringing many insurgent leaders to the negotiating table, breathed his last yesterday in Guwahati at 64. Sharma, who is survived by his wife and two children, was battling cancer.

Sharma's death has cast a pall of gloom over the State, and the citizens of Assam have come together to pay their last respects to the former 'top cop'. Assam Police, which Sharma had served diligently for several decades, mourned the former cop's demise on Twitter, with a tweet that read, "The

 

" data-mentioned-user-id="3306790844">@assampolice frate  fraternity is deeply saddened on the untimely demise of Shri Khagen Sarma, IPS - former DGP, Assam. A 1982 batch IPS Officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, he was instrumental in bringing peace to the region. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family."

Assam MP Gaurav Gogoi, taking to Twitter to pay his condolences, wrote, "Deeply sad to learn about the passing away of former DGP Assam Police Khagen Sharma. He was a person who was crucial to securing the law and order in Assam during the Congress government between 2001-16. My condolences to his family and friends."

 

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Sharma, a 1982-batch IPS Officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, is known for a ushering in a new era in the Assam Police with his brand of 'no-nonsense' policing and firmness in dealing with armed militants.

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After serving duty as the SP across the State, Sharma joined the Special Branch of the Police in 1997, and the downfall of the insurgent groups operating in the State could be seen during his tenure. He had served in Assam Police's Special Branch (SB) as the IGP and ADGP, when he successfully brought the ULFA and both factions of the NDFB to the negotiating table.

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In 2014, he joined as the DGP of the Assam Police, and retired in 2015.

A former Principal of the Police Training College, Sharma during a career studded with many accomplishments, also served as DIG of Police of the Northern Range before joining the Special Branch as DIG in 1997.

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In a career studded with glories, he was known for his hard-nosed stance against insurgency, and in one of his career highlights, 668 militants belonging to nine militant outfits of the State laid down arms before the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in Guwahati in Sharma's presence while he was ADGP (SB).

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