IPS officer Ilam Afroz gets posted as superintendent of police, Lahaul-Spiti
IPS officer Ilma Afroz
Shimla, 10 March, 2025: The Himachal Pradesh government on Friday transferred IPS officer Ilma Afroz and posted her as the SP Lahaul-Spiti. Afroz is a 2018 batch officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre and was earlier posted as the Superintendent of Police of Police District Baddi. The transfer of her office to the remote mountainous district of Lahaul-Spiti is in line with the ongoing efforts of the state government to appropriately manage police in the entire state.
The transfer order, which was made with immediate effect and in the public interest, was issued by the Governor on the advice of the Civil Services Board, the official notification said. The transfer of Afroz to Lahaul-Spiti is a part of a larger reorganization designed to bolster law enforcement in the region.
Dr. Karthikeyan Gokulachandran is Relieved of Additional Charge
Consequent upon this reshuffle, District Kullu, Superintendent of Police, Dr. Karthikeyan Gokulachandran has been relieved from additionally holding the post of District Lahaul-Spiti, Superintendent of Police. Gokulachandran had been serving in both capacities, but with Afroz’s new appointment, he will now concentrate on his duties in Kullu district.
Lahaul-Spiti is a high-altitude area with difficult terrains and villages that are far apart — helping the police to face unique challenges. The district is wide, covering massive mountain ranges and small, scattered communities, several of which are higher up and not easily accessible during the winter months. Afroz’s new role will call on courage and ingenuity to navigate these logistical challenges and help maintain law and order in this culturally rich but geographically challenging region.
About Ilma Afroz: Background and Work experience
Her appointment as SP of Lahaul-Spiti is a significant step in her illustrious career. Afroz, a 2018-batch IAS officer assigned to the Himachal Pradesh cadre, has exhibited exemplary leadership skills in her earlier postings. During her time at the Baddi, evolving into an industrial city in the Solan region, she took the initiative to maintain the action for the law and order situation and handle the challenges posed by a rising population and a booming industrial base.
Afroz should give fresh eyes to policing in the region as he transfers to Lahaul-Spiti. The district is not only characterized by its peace and tranquillity and cultural precepts, but also has seen the steady increase in tourism. Now with this growth, there is a higher demand for law enforcement to keep the residents and visitors out here safe. Also, the extremely remote location of Lahaul-Spiti, with several regions facing extreme weather conditions, causes difficulties in communications, mobility and security. Afroz’s past experience in varied environments may prove valuable when she assumes her new position in this geographically isolated region of Himachal Pradesh.
Cancellation of Transfer of Dy. Superintendent of Police (SDPO)
Meanwhile, the state government has also scrapped transfer of Raj Kumar, an officer of SDPO rank. Raj Kumar, an HPPS officer of 2020 batch, was transferred from his posting as Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) in Bhaba Nagar, Kinnaur to Dadasiba in Kangra through an order issued in December 2024.
But now, the government has cancelled this transfer order with immediate effect. The notification confirming the cancellation was issued by the Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena. No official reason for the reversal of the transfer decision has been provided, but administrative moves such as these are frequently used to respond to shifting operational needs or other matters within the department. This decision also adds to an increasingly changing landscape of the state’s law enforcement leadership — another indication the government is seeking to modernize and consolidate police administration.
Implications of the Reshuffle
Keeping in view the importance of good governance in every part of the state, particularly in remote and strategic areas like Lahaul-Spiti, this decision by the Himachal Pradesh police department also reflects the priorities of the state government. Ilma Afroz will now helm the police operations in the Lahaul-Spiti district, which is likely to lead to an increased emphasis on law enforcement, tourism safety and community engagement in the region.
The reshuffle also points to a wider intent to reinforce the police department’s command structure by strategically situating capable experienced officers at the helm. They are not only expected to have on the job experience in policing but they also ought to be flexible enough to deal with the logistical and environmental problems that polis in high altitude areas face.
Looking Ahead
Up against a plethora of unique challenges in one of Himachal Pradesh’s most beautiful yet challenging terrains, Ilma Afroz is ready for her new assignment — as Lahaul-Spiti district’s new Superintendent of Police. The move cannot help but excite the people of Lahaul-Spiti because she has established a reputation for executing their law and order duties in the state.
This is a clear signal that the Himachal Pradesh government is more than serious about performance issues not only in the Indian Police Service Indian but the entire spectrum in the state police department to maintain the utmost discipline in law enforcement agencies functioning from those regions, specifically those which needs extra care because of geographical and economic situation.
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