Who Was IPS Officer Dawa Sherpa? Former UP Police ADG Known for Integrity, Compassionate Leadership and Public-Centric Policing Passes Away at 64
The Indian policing fraternity has lost one of its most respected and admired officers. Dawa Sherpa, a former Additional Director General (ADG) of the Uttar Pradesh Police known for his unwavering integrity, disciplined work ethic and people-first approach to policing, passed away in Jammu on Monday following a brief illness. He was 64.
His death has sparked an outpouring of condolences from serving and retired police officers, bureaucrats, political leaders and members of the public who remembered him not only as an accomplished IPS officer but also as a compassionate administrator who believed that effective policing begins with earning people’s trust.
Sherpa, a 1991-batch Indian Police Service officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, spent nearly three decades serving in some of the state’s most challenging districts and senior police formations. Over the years, he built a reputation that many officers spend a lifetime chasing – a reputation for honesty, fairness and professionalism.
At the time of his passing, he was staying with his son, Minga Sherpa, an IAS officer currently serving as Deputy Commissioner of Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir. Family members said he had been unwell for a short period before breathing his last on Monday.
His passing marks the end of a distinguished chapter in Indian policing, one that left a lasting impression on colleagues, junior officers and citizens across Uttar Pradesh.
From Darjeeling Hills to the IPS
Born in the picturesque Darjeeling region of West Bengal, Dawa Sherpa hailed from Rimbick, a town nestled in the Himalayan foothills. His early years were shaped by the values of discipline, hard work and public service, qualities that would later define his professional journey.
After completing his education, Sherpa earned a Bachelor of Science degree and also obtained a diploma from the National Fire Academy. Those academic foundations, combined with his determination and leadership skills, eventually led him into one of the country’s most prestigious services – the Indian Police Service.
Joining the IPS as a direct recruit, Sherpa entered a profession known for its immense challenges and demanding responsibilities. What followed was a career that steadily established him among Uttar Pradesh’s most respected police officers.
Building a Reputation Across Uttar Pradesh
Throughout his service, Dawa Sherpa held several important field postings as Superintendent of Police (SP) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).
His assignments took him across diverse regions of Uttar Pradesh, including districts that frequently posed law-and-order challenges and required strong administrative leadership.
Among the districts where he served were Azamgarh, Muzaffarnagar, Sonbhadra, Bhadohi, Sultanpur, Sitapur and Kushinagar.
Each posting brought a different set of challenges. Some districts grappled with communal sensitivities. Others required attention to organized crime, rural policing, social tensions or administrative coordination.
What distinguished Sherpa was his ability to maintain firmness without losing the human touch.
Former colleagues often recall that he never viewed policing merely through the lens of enforcement. He believed that a police officer’s role extended beyond crime control. According to officers who worked with him, he consistently emphasized accessibility, public interaction and community confidence-building while ensuring strict adherence to the law.
That balanced approach earned him admiration both within the police force and among ordinary citizens.
Rising Through the Ranks
As the years passed, Sherpa steadily climbed the hierarchy of the Uttar Pradesh Police.
His administrative capabilities, field experience and reputation for clean governance helped him secure increasingly senior responsibilities. Eventually, he rose to the rank of Additional Director General of Police, one of the highest positions in the state’s policing structure.
Among the notable milestones of his career was his appointment as the first Additional Director General of the Gorakhpur Zone.
The position carried considerable importance because the zone plays a critical role in eastern Uttar Pradesh’s law-and-order framework. During his tenure, Sherpa was credited with strengthening coordination among district police units and improving administrative efficiency across the region.
Officers familiar with his work say he focused heavily on institutional discipline and operational effectiveness while maintaining a calm and approachable leadership style.
Leadership at CBCID
Before retiring from service, Sherpa served as Additional Director General, Crime Branch Crime Investigation Department (CBCID), Lucknow.
The CBCID is responsible for handling some of the most sensitive and complex criminal investigations in the state. The position requires not only investigative expertise but also the ability to oversee large teams and ensure professional standards in high-profile cases.
As ADG CBCID, Sherpa supervised important investigations and contributed to strengthening the department’s investigative processes.
His tenure was marked by an emphasis on professionalism, procedural integrity and thorough fact-based inquiry.
When he retired in 2022, he left behind a reputation as an officer who had consistently placed institutional credibility above personal considerations.
A Brief Foray into Politics
One of the lesser-known chapters of Sherpa’s life involved a temporary shift toward public and political engagement.
In 2008, while serving in the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) in Sitapur, he sought voluntary retirement from the police service. His intention was to return to his native Darjeeling region and participate more actively in public life.
During that period, he became associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL), where he served as Working President. He also held organizational responsibilities within the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal.
Many believed that his administrative experience and grassroots connect could have translated into a successful political career.
However, events took a different turn.
The government did not approve his request for voluntary retirement. As a result, Sherpa returned to active police service in 2012 and resumed his responsibilities within the Uttar Pradesh Police.
The decision ultimately allowed him to continue contributing to law enforcement for another decade before his retirement.
A Family Deeply Rooted in Public Service
Public service runs strongly within the Sherpa family.
Dawa Sherpa is survived by his wife, Punam Sherpa, daughter Mallika Sherpa and son Minga Sherpa.
His son has built an impressive administrative career and currently serves as Deputy Commissioner of Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir.
The family’s commitment to governance and public administration extends further. Sherpa’s daughter-in-law, Ayushi Sudan, is also an IAS officer and presently serves as Deputy Commissioner of Samba district in Jammu and Kashmir.
Friends and colleagues often remarked that the family’s collective dedication to public service reflected values that Dawa Sherpa himself championed throughout his life.
Tributes Pour In
Following news of his passing, tributes began pouring in from across the country.
Senior police officers, retired colleagues, civil servants and members of the administrative community remembered him as an officer who combined professionalism with humility.
Many described him as a leader who remained accessible regardless of rank and who treated colleagues, subordinates and citizens with equal respect.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed condolences and shared his sympathies with the bereaved family.
Messages of remembrance highlighted Sherpa’s integrity, calm demeanor and unwavering commitment to duty.
Several officers noted that while strong policing often attracts attention, it is the quiet, consistent and ethical officers who leave the deepest institutional impact. Sherpa, they said, belonged firmly to that category.
Final Journey to Darjeeling
According to family sources, his last rites will be conducted in Darjeeling, the region where his life journey began.
Relatives, friends, former colleagues and well-wishers are expected to gather there to pay their final respects and celebrate a life devoted to public service.
For many in the police force, Dawa Sherpa’s legacy goes beyond the positions he held or the ranks he achieved. It lies in the example he set.
In an era when public institutions are constantly under scrutiny, he represented a model of honest leadership, administrative competence and people-oriented policing. His career demonstrated that authority can coexist with humility and that effective law enforcement does not require sacrificing empathy.
As colleagues remember the former ADG, one theme continues to emerge again and again – Dawa Sherpa was not merely a police officer. He was a public servant in the truest sense of the term, and the values he embodied will continue to inspire future generations of officers long after his passing.
