Kerala Transfers 30 IPS Officers in Sweeping Police Reshuffle; P. Vijayan Takes Charge as ADGP Law & Order, Arul R.B. Krishna Appointed Thiruvananthapuram Police Commissioner
In the first major overhaul of the state’s police leadership since the United Democratic Front (UDF) government assumed office, the Kerala government has carried out a large-scale reshuffle of the Indian Police Service (IPS) cadre, transferring and reassigning 30 senior officers across crucial positions in the state’s law enforcement apparatus.
The extensive exercise, notified on Wednesday, has brought significant changes across virtually every important wing of Kerala Police, including Law and Order, Intelligence, Crime Branch, Cyber Operations, Armed Police Battalions, Commissionerates, and district policing units.
From Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) level appointments to changes in Commissionerates, Range DIG postings, district police leadership, and specialized units, the reshuffle is being viewed as a strategic administrative reset designed to strengthen policing, improve coordination among various departments, and align law enforcement priorities with the agenda of the new government.
The changes affect some of Kerala’s most influential police positions and are expected to shape the state’s policing strategy in the months and years ahead.
Major Changes at the Top: ADGP-Level Reshuffle
The most significant decisions have come at the level of Additional Director General of Police, where several senior officers have been assigned new responsibilities.
One of the key changes involves S. Sreejith, who was serving as ADGP (Headquarters). He has now been transferred and appointed as ADGP (Prisons), taking charge of the state’s correctional administration.
Meanwhile, Balram Kumar Upadhyay, who had been serving as Director General of the Prisons Department, has been posted as ADGP (Armed Police Battalions). His new role places him in charge of Kerala’s armed reserve formations and battalion-level operational preparedness.
Another important move sees H. Venkatesh, who held the sensitive portfolio of ADGP (Law and Order), being shifted to head the Crime Branch as ADGP.
The appointment is expected to bring experienced leadership to the state’s premier investigative wing, which handles major criminal investigations and sensitive cases.
P. Vijayan Emerges as a Key Figure in Kerala Police
Perhaps the most notable decision in the reshuffle is the appointment of senior IPS officer P. Vijayan as ADGP (Law and Order).
Vijayan, who had been serving in the Intelligence Wing, will now oversee one of the most critical policing portfolios in the state.
His responsibilities will include:
Statewide law and order management
Coordination with district police units
Oversight of security arrangements
Monitoring public order situations
Handling major policing challenges
The government has also entrusted him with the full additional charge of ADGP (Cyber Operations).
This dual responsibility places Vijayan at the center of Kerala’s traditional and technology-driven policing framework.
With cybercrime, online fraud, digital surveillance, and cybersecurity emerging as major law enforcement priorities, the combined assignment significantly expands his influence within the state’s police administration.
Intelligence Wing Gets New Leadership
The Intelligence Wing has also undergone important changes.
Dinendra Kashyap, who was serving as ADGP (Armed Police Battalions), has been appointed ADGP (Intelligence).
His transfer comes at a time when intelligence gathering, threat assessment, and security coordination continue to be critical components of modern policing.
At the Inspector General level, the Intelligence Wing has also received additional reinforcement.
R. Nishanthini, who was serving in the Headquarters establishment, has been transferred to the Intelligence Department, strengthening the leadership structure of the unit.
Officials believe the new appointments will enhance information-sharing, field intelligence coordination, and strategic security planning.
Key IG-Level Appointments
The reshuffle has brought several notable changes at the Inspector General level.
Harshita Attaluri, who was serving as IG (Traffic), has been appointed IG (Headquarters).
The position plays an important role in administrative coordination, personnel management, and operational oversight across the state police organization.
Meanwhile, S. Syamsundar, who was heading the Intelligence Wing as Inspector General, has been transferred to the Crime Branch as IG.
His experience in intelligence and security operations is expected to strengthen the investigative capabilities of the Crime Branch.
Important Changes in DIG-Level Leadership
Several key positions at the Deputy Inspector General level have also witnessed significant movement.
Yathish Chandra G.H., who was serving in Kannur, has been transferred as DIG, Ernakulam.
Ernakulam remains one of Kerala’s most important policing zones due to its commercial significance, urban population, and strategic location.
Another major transfer involves K. Karthick, who was serving as Commissioner of Police, Thiruvananthapuram City.
He has now been appointed DIG, Thrissur Range.
In a corresponding move, Narayanan T. has been shifted from Thrissur and posted as DIG, Kannur.
These changes are expected to influence policing strategies in some of Kerala’s most important administrative regions.
Arul R.B. Krishna Appointed Thiruvananthapuram Police Commissioner
One of the most closely watched decisions in the reshuffle is the appointment of Arul R.B. Krishna as Commissioner of Police, Thiruvananthapuram City.
Previously serving as DIG, Ernakulam, Arul Krishna now takes charge of policing in the state capital.
The Thiruvananthapuram Commissionerate is among Kerala’s most high-profile police assignments, involving responsibility for:
Law and order in the capital city
VIP and VVIP security
Political events and demonstrations
Cybercrime management
Urban policing initiatives
Public safety operations
Given the strategic importance of the post, his appointment is being viewed as one of the most significant outcomes of the reshuffle.
Kozhikode Commissionerate Sees New Leadership
The Kozhikode police leadership has also undergone major changes.
Merin Joseph, who was serving as Commissioner of Police, Kozhikode City, has been transferred and appointed District Police Chief, Kozhikode Rural.
Taking her place as Kozhikode City Police Commissioner will be Shoukathali A.P., who previously served as Crime Branch Superintendent of Police in Alappuzha.
The transfer is expected to bring fresh leadership perspectives to one of Kerala’s busiest urban police jurisdictions.
Extensive Changes in District Police Leadership
The reshuffle has also resulted in significant movement among District Police Chiefs across Kerala.
The new appointments include:
Sabu Mathew K.M. – District Police Chief, Kottayam
Shaji Sugunan – District Police Chief, Kollam Rural
Vishnu Pratheep T.K. – District Police Chief, Alappuzha
Abdul Rashi A. – District Police Chief, Palakkad
S. Deva Manohar – District Police Chief, Wayanad
Nidhinraj P. – District Police Chief, Kasaragod
Mohammad Nadeemuddin – District Police Chief, Thrissur Rural
Umesh Goyal – District Police Chief, Kannur Rural
Nasim A. – District Police Chief, Idukki
In another important appointment, Prasanthan Kani B.K., who served as Chief Vigilance Officer of the Kerala State Electricity Board, has been posted as District Police Chief, Thiruvananthapuram Rural.
These officers will now lead policing operations at the grassroots level, where issues relating to crime prevention, public order, traffic management, community policing, and emergency response are handled on a daily basis.
New Roles in Specialized Police Wings
The reshuffle has also focused on strengthening specialized units.
Among the notable postings:
B. Krishna Kumar has been appointed Superintendent of Police (Railways).
Anuj Paliwal has been posted as Assistant Inspector General (Law and Order) at Police Headquarters in a newly created ex-cadre position.
Farash T. has been appointed Assistant Inspector General, Ernakulam Coastal Police.
Mohanachandran Nair M.P. has been transferred as Crime Branch Superintendent of Police for the Kozhikode-Wayanad region.
C.S. Shahul Hameed has been posted as Superintendent of Police, Central Unit-I, Crime Branch, Thiruvananthapuram.
These appointments are expected to enhance the operational efficiency of specialized policing functions across the state.
First Major Police Overhaul Under the UDF Government
The reshuffle carries political and administrative significance because it is the first comprehensive IPS-level reorganization undertaken after the UDF government assumed power.
Observers note that the exercise extends far beyond routine transfers.
It involves a strategic repositioning of experienced officers across critical policing domains, including intelligence, investigations, law and order, cyber operations, urban policing, and district administration.
The government appears to be focusing on strengthening coordination among departments while ensuring that key positions are occupied by officers whose expertise aligns with current policing challenges.
Impact on Kerala’s Policing Landscape
The transfer of 30 IPS officers in a single exercise is one of the most extensive police reshuffles witnessed in Kerala in recent years.
With new leadership now in place across major operational wings, commissionerates, district units, and specialized departments, the state’s policing structure is entering a new phase.
The appointments of P. Vijayan to the crucial Law and Order portfolio and Arul R.B. Krishna as Thiruvananthapuram Police Commissioner stand out as particularly significant developments.
As the new team settles into its responsibilities, the reshuffle is expected to influence Kerala’s approach to public safety, crime control, intelligence gathering, cyber security, and law enforcement administration across the state.
