While conducting an administrative analysis, the government of Chhattisgarh recently transferred 40 IPS personnel in the state. The government-appointed IPS Ankita Sharma as the ACP of the Naxal-affected Bastar district. But who is this woman who made history in Chhattisgarh as the first woman IPS officer of the state to get the home cadre?
IPS Ankita Sharma was born in the Durg district of Chhattisgarh on April 25, 1992. Durg is where she finished high school and college. After obtaining her MBA, she moved to Delhi to study for the UPSC exam. She went to Delhi for six months before returning to Durg to study on her own.
This is where she married Vivekanand Shukla, a major in the army while she was preparing for UPSC. According to several interviews that Sharma gave, she always wanted to become an IPS officer but neither had the right guidance nor the knowledge of subjects required.
It was difficult for her to adjust to the new lifestyle – juggling marriage and living in new cities. Ankita gave two attempts to her childhood ambition but could not pass through. In 2018, she passed on her third attempt and was ranked 203rd. She was honoured for becoming the state’s first female IPS officer.
Ankita Sharma, who is now serving as the Municipal Superintendent of Police (CSP), Azad Chowk, in Raipur, is also grateful to her spouse, who she says played a key part in her success.
Ankita has now been entrusted with the most important mission of her career, “operation Bastar”. She was appointed ACP of the Naxal-affected Bastar area to eradicate the troubles caused by Naxalites. She is seen as a powerful and dictatorial commander.
This operation appears to be a success as well since several Naxalites have been killed and many others have surrendered to police and the CRPF.
Apart from this, Ankita has established an effort to assist young people who are preparing for the UPSC. She takes time out from her hectic schedule to answer questions and mentor prospective students. On Sundays, she has a doubts session at the police station from 11 am to 1 pm. She rose to prominence after offering free internet tuitions to kids. There were several posts on social media complimenting her.
On the 26th of January, Ankita led the procession at the police parade field, making her the first woman officer to lead a parade. She also enjoys horseback riding and badminton, according to her social media posts and photos.
Along with Sharma, IPS Anjaneya Varshney has been promoted to ACP of Sukma, while CSP Yedupally Akshay Kumar has been transferred to Narayanpur in the Bastar division.