Raipur: Arun Dev Gautam, a 1992-batch IPS officer, has been appointed as the new Director General of Police (DGP) of Chhattisgarh. His appointment follows the end of former DGP Ashok Juneja's tenure, which concluded on Monday after two extensions. Juneja was given a farewell at the Raipur Police Headquarters, and Gautam is expected to assume his new role on Wednesday.
Distinguished Career and Achievements
Arun Dev Gautam, originally from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has served as the Superintendent of Police (SP) in six districts across Chhattisgarh and held key positions in the state police force. He has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including:
- United Nations Medal (2002) for his service in conflict-torn Kosovo.
- Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service(2010).
- President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service(2018).
Professional Journey
After completing his MA and MPhil, Gautam cleared the UPSC exam and joined the IPS in 1992. Beginning his career in the Madhya Pradesh cadre, he served as a trainee IPS officer in Jabalpur and later as CSP in Bilaspur. Following the formation of Chhattisgarh in 2000, he chose the Chhattisgarh cadre and served as SP in districts like Korea, Raigarh, Jashpur, Rajnandgaon, Surguja, and Bilaspur.
Gautam's leadership was crucial during challenging times, such as the 2009 Naxalite attack in Rajnandgaon, where 29 policemen lost their lives. He was appointed as SP to restore order in the region. Following the 2013 Jheeram Naxalite attack, he served as Bastar IG and played a pivotal role in ensuring the successful conduct of assembly elections later that year.
Recent Responsibilities
In recent years, Gautam has held multiple key roles, including:
Home Secretary of Chhattisgarh.
Inspector General of Police (Railway, Training, Recruitment, and Traffic).
Additional charge of Jail, Transport, City Army, and Fire Services.
With his extensive experience and proven leadership, it was expected that he will usher Chhattisgarh's police force into a new era.
