Arpit Shukla
Arpit Shukla | |
|---|---|
| Director General of Police of (Law and Order) | |
| Assumed office 27 October 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Chief Director of Bureau of Investigation (BoI) | |
| Assumed office 14 June 2020 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 April 1966 |
| Alma mater | (MPA) Delhi University |
| Awards | |
| Police career | |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Branch | Punjab Police |
| Service years | 1993 — present |
| Rank |  Director General of Police |
Arpit Shukla (born 24 April 1966) is an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 1993 batch from the Punjab cadre. He currently serves as the Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) in the Punjab Police.[1]
He has previously held several senior positions including Commissioner of Police (Jalandhar), Chief Director of the Bureau of Investigation (BoI), and Additional director general of police (Law and Order). He is a recipient of the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.[2]
Police career
[edit]Shukla joined the Indian Police Service in 1993 under the Punjab cadre. He has served in several districts in various leadership capacities. In 2016, he was appointed Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar. He has also served as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Firozpur, Patiala, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Sangrur, and Faridkot.[3]
In June 2020, he was appointed Chief Director of the Bureau of Investigation (BoI), replacing Prabodh Kumar.[4][5] In September 2022, he took over as Additional director general of police (Law and Order) and was promoted to the rank of Special DGP on 27 October 2023.[6][7][8][9]
Notable Operations
[edit]Operation Eagle
[edit]Shukla spearheaded Operation Eagle, a series of coordinated raids targeting narcotics hotspots across Punjab. In June 2024, Operation Eagle-IV mobilized over 500 police units and more than 4,000 personnel. It led to 254 arrests, 221 FIRs, and the seizure of heroin, poppy husk, pharmaceutical drugs, and illicit proceeds.[10][11]
Investigations as Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar
[edit]During his tenure in Jalandhar (2015–2017), Shukla supervised several high-profile investigations, including the assassination of RSS leader Brig.[12][13] Jagdish Gagneja, the murder of hawala operator Anil “Billa” Kumar, and a triple murder in Lajpat Nagar. Each of these cases resulted in arrests and significant investigative progress under his leadership.[14][15]
Crackdown on Goldy Brar’s Network
[edit]In September 2023, Punjab Police under Shukla’s command conducted 1,159 coordinated raids across border districts including Amritsar, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, and Moga. The raids targeted operatives linked to Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar, who is allegedly involved in organized crime and transnational smuggling.[16][17]
Grenade Attack Case
[edit]On 8 April 2025, a grenade attack occurred at the residence of BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar. The case was solved within 12 hours under Shukla’s supervision, with two accused arrested on the same day. Investigators later linked the conspiracy to Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang and a handler based in Pakistan.[18] Arpit Shukla of the Punjab Police resolved the case within 12 hours of the explosion. Two individuals were apprehended on the same day for purportedly launching the grenade from an e-rickshaw. The additional suspects in the case include incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and a handler residing in Pakistan, known as Shahzad Bhatti.[19]
War Against Drugs
[edit]As of August 2025, Punjab Police had registered nearly 17,000 FIRs and arrested over 24,600 individuals as part of the Yudh Nasheyan De Virudh campaign led by Shukla. The campaign involved daily operations across all districts of Punjab and targeted drug traffickers and distribution networks.[20]
Operation “Waris Punjab De”
[edit]In March 2023, Shukla coordinated the law enforcement response to the activities of the separatist group Waris Punjab De, led by Amritpal Singh. While core operatives were detained, Shukla also directed the release of minors and non-violent detainees, maintaining law and order while avoiding unnecessary escalation.[21] During the Punjab Police's nationwide initiative to apprehend Amritpal and dismantle his extremist network, Shukla supervised law enforcement measures to ensure the maintenance of public order.[22] He significantly embraced a humanitarian stance by mandating the release of numerous incarcerated teenagers who were identified as merely minor participants. During the Waris Punjab De unrest, around 207 individuals were apprehended for breaching the peace.[23]
Decorations
[edit]
President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service (2012)
Police Medal for Meritorious Service (2006)
References
[edit]- ^ "Arpit Shukla gets DGP rank". The Times of India. 27 October 2023.
- ^ "Punjab special DGP chairs high-level meeting to take stock of Amarnath Yatra security". The Indian Express. 3 July 2023.
- ^ "Arpit Shukla takes charge as Police Commissioner". The Tribune.
- ^ "4 IPS officers shifted, Arpit Shukla to replace Prabodh Kumar as BoI head". Hindustan Times. 14 June 2020.
- ^ "6 आईपीएस का तबादला, एडीजीपी अर्पित शुक्ला बनाए गए बीओआई के डायरेक्टर". Bhaskar.com.
- ^ "Punjab transfers 21 IPS, 33 PPS officers; 5 ADGP-rank officers get new postings". The Indian Express. 31 August 2022.
- ^ "Arpit Shukla is new Punjab ADGP law and order". Hindustan Times. 1 September 2022.
- ^ "Panchkula News: अर्पित शुक्ला डीजीपी के पद पर पदोन्नत, आदेश जारी". Amar Ujala (in Hindi).
- ^ "Arpit Shukla gets DGP rank". The Times of India. 27 October 2023.
- ^ "Punjab Police conduct statewide operation 'EAGLE-IV' against drug hotspots, arrest 254". The Indian Express. 21 June 2024.
- ^ "Operation Eagle-4 : Punjab police arrests 254 persons ; 2.6kg heroin, 15.71 lakh drug money recovered". Punjabnewsline.com.
- ^ "Sharpshooter Shera who 'killed' RSS' Gagneja held". The Tribune.
- ^ "CBI team meets top cops". The Times of India. 2 April 2017.
- ^ "Man held in Jalandhar money changer murder case". Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times. 4 July 2016.
- ^ "Money changer shot in Jalandhar". The Tribune.
- ^ Kumar, Ajit (21 September 2023). "Punjab Police launches massive crackdown to 'finish' Goldy Brar gang as Khalistani movement escalates". India TV News.
- ^ "सिद्धू मूसेवाला के पिता को मिली धमकियों पर एडीजीपी ने कहा- गैंगेस्टरों को निष्प्रभावी बनाएंगे". ABP News (in Hindi). 2 September 2022.
- ^ "Lawrence Bishnoi gang, BKI behind grenade attack on BJP leader Kalia's house in Jalandhar". The Tribune.
- ^ "Grenade hit on BJP neta's Punjab house; cops claim role of ISI, Bishnoi, nab 2". The Times of India. 9 April 2025.
- ^ "War on drugs: 254 held, 221 FIRs filed". The Times of India. 22 June 2024.
- ^ "लुधियाना पहुंचे DGP लॉ एंड आर्डर अर्पित शुक्ला: बोले- थ्रेट मिलते हैं, सुरक्षा के पुख्ता प्रबंध, प्लास्टिक डोर बेचने वालों पर होगा एक्शन - Ludhiana News". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 22 January 2025.
- ^ "ADGP Law & Order Arpit Shukla inspects checkpoints in Rupnagar under Operation Eagle | Rupnagar Web Portal | India". rupnagar.nic.in.
- ^ "DGP Arpit Shukla के नेतृत्व में पंजाब पुलिस द्वारा चलाया गया ऑपरेशन सील8, राज्यों की सीमाओं पर बढ़ी सुरक्षा". dainiksaveratimes.com.