Who is Ajay Pal Sharma? UP IPS officer with 500+ encounters who went viral after Bengal poll warning video

LUCKNOW: UP IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma has emerged as a talking point during the ongoing West Bengal assembly elections 2026 after a video of him issuing a stern warning to a political functionary went viral.

Who is IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma?

A 2011-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Ajay Pal Sharma is known for his aggressive and action-oriented policing style.A former dental surgeon, he left his medical profession to join the civil services and has since served in several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Jaunpur, Shamli, Rampur, and Hathras.Currently posted as assistant commissioner of police (Law and Order) in Prayagraj, Sharma has built a reputation as a tough officer with a strong focus on law enforcement.During his tenure as superintendent of police in Jaunpur, he was credited with leading over 500 police encounters, including a record 136 encounters in just 22 months.The warning was reportedly directed at supporters of Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan, who has been accused by locals of intimidation. Khan, considered close to TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, has been at the centre of controversy.Sources said Sharma initially faced resistance while trying to trace Khan’s residence, as local residents and even some police personnel were reluctant to share details, allegedly due to fear. However, his team eventually located the address after a search operation.Sharma also flagged irregularities in security deployment. While Khan is entitled to ‘Y-category’ security with 10 personnel, 14 policemen were found deployed at his residence. Following this, Sharma issued a notice to the local SP seeking an explanation for the excess deployment of personnel.