Meet Sundarraj P, The Bastar IG Known For His Fight Against Maoists In Chhattisgarh

The story of an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer has taken the internet by storm. Bastar Inspector General (IG) Sundarraj P is currently going viral on the internet for making a huge impact in the Naxal-affected districts of Chhattisgarh. Born on February 27, 1980, Sundarraj hails from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He pursued a BSc in Agriculture before shifting his career towards law enforcement. He was selected for the IPS in 2003, after which he was assigned to the Chhattisgarh cadre. The officer has served there with distinction. Sundarraj began his IPS career on September 5, 2003, after his posting in Korba district as the Superintendent of Police. His posting came shortly after Chhattisgarh became a separate state from Madhya Pradesh. The officer quickly made his mark as a police officer by cracking down on criminals, while also conducting his first encounter in the newly formed state. The said encounter was with a notorious criminal from Bilaspur named Chunnu Garg. This criminal had taken a couple hostage and later fled to Korba. It led to an operation being conducted under Sundarraj. A Nagar Sainik was even shot dead in this encounter but the officer eventually carried out a successful elimination of Chunnu. This operation is still regarded as a major achievement under the belt of Sundarraj.

Sundarraj has spent most of his career in Naxalite-affected areas of Chhattisgarh, serving as Superintendent of Police (SP) in districts including Surguja, Kabirdham, Rajnandgaon and Korba. The officer’s deep understanding of the region has led to his promotion to Deputy Inspector General of Dantewada. In 2016. He was transitioned to the State Intelligence Bureau before being empanelled as an Inspector General in the Central Government.

As of now, Sundarraj is serving as the Inspector General (IG) in the Bastar region, holding the position since November 2021. His effectiveness and dedication led to the extension of his tenure through the 2024 elections. The extension was approved by the Election Commission of India. Sundarraj has played an important role in the ongoing battle against Naxalites. He was also vital in conducting peaceful elections in 2018 and 2019.