Tribute..! And this is how IPS Ajai Raj Sharma passed away

One of the finest Top Cop Ajai Raj Sharma has boarded the last flight for his last journey from the World.  80-year-old Ajai Raj Sharma had been falling prey to age-related diseases for some years, but recently his health had deteriorated a lot. Mr. Sharma was admitted to Kailash Hospital in Noida for treatment where he breathed his last late on Monday night. His last rites will be performed tomorrow (12 February 2025) at the crematorium in Lodhi Colony, Delhi.

Ajai Raj Sharma was an officer of the 1966 batch of Uttar Pradesh cadre of Indian Police Service.  He was a resident of Mirzapur in eastern Uttar Pradesh but after his superannuation  from the post of Director General of Border Security Force, he was living in Sector 44 in Noida, a city in Delhi NCR region.

His son Yash Sharma said that his father was admitted to Kailash Hospital on January 25. He had been suffering from diabetes for a long time but later he was surrounded by high blood pressure and heart disease. Along with being overweight, he also had knee problems for which he also underwent surgery.

Ajai Raj Sharma’s father, who belongs to a landlord family, came from Punjab province and settled in Mirzapur. Ajai Raj  completed his primary education at St. Joseph Academy in Dehradun before moving to Allahabad (now Prayagraj) in 1956. He studied at Christian Public School and later graduated from Allahabad University. It was from here that he also completed his master’s degree in 1965. Along with studies, he prepared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination and passed it in the very first attempt. He joined the Indian Police Service in 1966.

Ajai Raj Sharma has served as an IPS officer in several administratively important and sensitive districts of Uttar Pradesh. He is also credited with creating and leading the Special Task Force (STF) in the state. This was a specially formed special force which eliminated several notorious gangs operating from Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states.

Mr. Sharma retired as Director General of Border Security Force in 2004. This force is the largest police force in the world to manage the security of any country’s border. The BSF protects India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

IPS officer Ajai Raj Sharma’s career began with policing small towns in Uttar Pradesh. Fighting bandits and goons of the infamous Chambal Valley, taking charge of politically sensitive and communally unstable districts, his journey as a police officer reached the country’s capital Delhi. IPS Ajai Raj Sharma was chosen to lead the Delhi Police in 1999 at a time when the capital was facing a challenging situation in  regard with law & order and security. He was the first officer from UP cadre to be made the Delhi Police Commissioner. This decision was taken during the tenure of Union Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani. However, it was during Ajai Raj Sharma’s tenure that Delhi witnessed the biggest terrorist attack till date. This was the attack on Parliament House building in 2001.

This was not just a terrorist attack on an important  building of the Capital. It is considered an attack on the centre of power of the world’s largest democracy and that too in the area which is considered as  the safest place. And it was in a big way a terrorist challenge to the country as its   conspiracy had links within the country and abroad. Despite the responsibility  of the security of the capital being on his shoulders, Ajai Raj Sharma did not panic even in that situation. The investigation of this case was completed and the criminals were arrested and the case was taken to its final conclusion.

Apart from controlling criminals, Ajai Raj Sharma also had the image of a strict and disciplined police officer who would take effective action against the mistakes and negligence of even senior police officers under him. Many such stories are heard and told about him during his tenure as Delhi Police Commissioner.

After completing his tenure  as Delhi Police Commissioner in 2002, he was given the command of Border Security Force. Ajai Raj Sharma also compiled his experiences and knowledge of police life in the form of a memoir  ‘Biting the Bullet’. Published by Rupa Publications this book can also serve as a guide for police officers.

Ajai Raj Sharma had a special interest in politics and sports. After retirement, he himself wanted to join politics. He had once discussed this with this correspondent. But the issue was that he wanted to contest elections by joining a party of his choice and on his own terms. Such opportunities could not be created.

Tribute from community of men and women in uniform :
Entire police community in remembering his contribution to the country as an honest and visionery officer.  Border Security Force in its social media post on X has said ,” DG BSF & All Ranks pay heartfelt tributes to Shri Ajai Raj Sharma, IPS, former DG BSF (2002-2004) on his demise. His visionary leadership & legacy continues to inspire us.Prahari Parivar stands in solidarity with his family.”

India’s first women IPS officer and former Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi said ,”He was a very respected and trusted leader. He led the Delhi Police Force with great sagacity and wisdom. We shall miss him.”