Senior Indian Police Service officer Rakesh Balwal (IPS:2012:MN), currently serving as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Srinagar, has undergone a premature transfer back to his home cadre in Manipur, which has witnessed heightened tensions in recent months. This transfer comes as per an official directive issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Balwal assumed the position of SSP Srinagar in late 2021.
Prior to his assignment in Srinagar, Balwal spent three and a half years on deputation with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as a Superintendent of Police. During his tenure with the NIA, he played a pivotal role as a member of the investigative team tasked with probing the tragic 2019 Pulwama terror attack, which resulted in the loss of 40 lives among the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.