Himachal Police Shake-up: Abhishek Dullar Appointed IG Law & Order; Ilma Afroz Takes Command as Nurpur SP in 10-Officer Reshuffle
The state capital of Shimla is witnessing a major administrative reset. In an aggressive move to tighten law enforcement and inject fresh energy into district level policing, the Himachal Pradesh Government has executed a significant administrative reshuffle, moving eight Indian Police Service (IPS) officers and two Himachal Pradesh Police Service (HPPS) officers into new roles with immediate effect.
Dropped by the Home Department, these official orders come backed by the recommendations of the Civil Services Board and carry the formal stamp of approval from Governor Shri Kavinder Gupta. The restructuring cascades all the way from the Inspector General of Police (IG) tier down to ground level district Superintendents of Police (SPs).
Let us jump straight into the biggest nameplates changing across the state and how the new policing hierarchy shapes up.
Abhishek Dullar Steps Up as the New Law & Order Chief
In arguably the most high profile placement of this round, 2006-batch IPS officer Abhishek Dullar has been positioned as the new Inspector General (Law and Order) in Shimla. Dullar is moving away from his previous desk as the IG of Communication and Technical Services in Hamirpur.
Because the administration is leaning heavily on his experience, he is not just handling one massive role. Dullar has also been saddled with the additional charge of IG (Armed Police and Training) based out of Daroh. This double assignment lands him right at the center of the state’s day-to-day law management and police force training architecture.
To keep the gears moving smoothly behind him, senior IPS officer D.K. Chaudhary is packing his bags to fill the void left by Dullar. Chaudhary, who was previously managing the Armed Police and Training wing in Daroh, will now settle in as the new IG of Communication and Technical Services in Hamirpur.
Ilma Afroz Returns to Take the Reins in Nurpur
Another standout appointment in this shuffle is that of IPS officer Ilma Afroz. Having recently touched down after wrapping up her ex-India study leave, Afroz was waiting in the wings for a fresh assignment. The government has handed her a premier ground assignment, locking her in as the new Superintendent of Police for the Nurpur Police District. Her entry is expected to bring a sharp, refreshed edge to law enforcement and field policing across the sensitive Nurpur region.
Afroz officially takes over from veteran HPPS officer Kulbhushan Verma, who is moving on to a massive command of his own.
Big Moves Across Kangra, Bilaspur, and Dehra
The puzzle pieces at the district SP level are shifting rapidly across multiple key zones:
Kulbhushan Verma (HPPS): After handing the Nurpur keys to Afroz, Verma has been deployed as the new SP of Kangra. He replaces 2017-batch IPS officer Ashok Rattan, who is transferring out to serve as SP (Leave Reserve) in Shimla. On top of his Kangra duties, Verma will continue to spearhead operations as the SP of the Special Task Force (STF) for the Dharamshala Zone—a dual responsibility previously held by Rattan.
Sandeep Kumar Dhawal (IPS): The Bilaspur SP has been officially reassigned as the SP of Dehra. This move aligns with the state’s broader strategy to anchor highly experienced hands into rapidly emerging administrative pockets.
Abhishek: In a major personal and professional milestone, Shimla’s Additional Superintendent of Police, Abhishek, has secured a promotion to take full charge as the new Superintendent of Police for Bilaspur.
Mayank Chaudhary (IPS): The outgoing Dehra SP is heading back to base, transferred to the Police Headquarters in Shimla to serve as SP (Leave Reserve).
Tighter Grips on Shimla and the Vigilance Bureau
The administration in the state capital is getting a supervisory boost with Gauravjeet Singh stepping in as the new Additional Superintendent of Police for Shimla. Singh was previously holding the line as the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) in Nadaun.
Concurrently, the state’s drive against institutional corruption gets a new point person. HPPS officer Raman Sharma has been transferred and officially designated as the Superintendent of Police for the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SV&ACB), Northern Range, stationed in Dharamshala. Given the high stakes nature of vigilance investigations, Sharma’s placement will be closely watched.
The Reshuffle at a Glance
For those keeping score, here is the quick breakdown of where everyone is landing:
Abhishek Dullar (IPS): Becomes IG (Law & Order), Shimla + Additional Charge of IG (Armed Police & Training), Daroh.
D.K. Chaudhary (IPS): Takes over as IG (Communication & Technical Services), Hamirpur.
Kulbhushan Verma (HPPS): Steps in as SP, Kangra + Additional Charge of SP, STF Dharamshala Zone.
Ilma Afroz (IPS): Takes command as SP, Nurpur.
Sandeep Kumar Dhawal (IPS): Shifts to SP, Dehra.
Abhishek: Promoted to SP, Bilaspur.
Raman Sharma (HPPS): Becomes SP, State Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Bureau, Northern Range, Dharamshala.
Gauravjeet Singh: Steps up as Additional SP, Shimla.
With all the transferred officers directed to assume their new desks immediately, the Himachal Pradesh administration is clearly looking to eliminate any transitional lag and keep state security locked down tight.
