The Kerala Government has carried out a major reshuffle involving 30 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, marking the first significant reorganization of the state’s police leadership since the United Democratic Front (UDF) assumed office.
The transfers span key positions across the police hierarchy, including Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Inspector General (IG), Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Commissioners of Police, District Police Chiefs and specialized policing units. The move is aimed at strengthening law enforcement administration, enhancing coordination among departments and aligning policing priorities with the government’s governance agenda.
Major Changes at the ADGP Level
The reshuffle has brought significant changes in the leadership of some of Kerala Police’s most important wings.
- S. Sreejith, who was serving as ADGP (Headquarters), has been transferred as ADGP (Prisons).
- Balram Kumar Upadhyay, who headed the Prisons Department as Director General, has been appointed ADGP (Armed Police Battalions).
- H. Venkatesh has been moved from the Law and Order wing and posted as ADGP (Crime Branch).
- Dinendra Kashyap has been transferred from Armed Police Battalions and appointed ADGP (Intelligence).
One of the most significant appointments is that of senior IPS officer P. Vijayan, who has been appointed ADGP (Law and Order). In addition, he has been entrusted with the full additional charge of ADGP (Cyber Operations), placing him in charge of two critical policing portfolios.
Key IG-Level Appointments
At the Inspector General level, Harshita Attaluri has been transferred from the Traffic Wing and posted as IG (Headquarters).
S. Syamsundar has been shifted from Intelligence and appointed IG (Crime Branch).
R. Nishanthini has been transferred from Headquarters to the Intelligence Wing, further strengthening the state’s intelligence apparatus.
DIG and Commissioner-Level Changes
Several senior officers have been reassigned to important field positions.
- Yathish Chandra G.H. has been transferred from Kannur and appointed DIG, Ernakulam.
- K. Karthick, who was serving as Commissioner of Police, Thiruvananthapuram City, has been posted as DIG, Thrissur Range.
- Narayanan T. has been transferred from Thrissur and appointed DIG, Kannur.
- Arul R.B. Krishna, who was serving as DIG, Ernakulam, has been appointed Commissioner of Police, Thiruvananthapuram City.
His appointment to lead the state capital’s police commissionerate is being viewed as one of the most prominent decisions in the reshuffle.
Changes in Kozhikode and Rural Policing
Merin Joseph, Commissioner of Police, Kozhikode City, has been posted as District Police Chief, Kozhikode Rural.
Shoukathali A.P., who was serving as Crime Branch Superintendent of Police in Alappuzha, has been appointed Commissioner of Police, Kozhikode City.
Prasanthan Kani B.K., Chief Vigilance Officer of Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), has been posted as District Police Chief, Thiruvananthapuram Rural.
New District Police Chiefs Across Kerala
The reshuffle has brought leadership changes in several district police units.
- Sabu Mathew K.M. has been posted as District Police Chief, Kottayam.
- Shaji Sugunan has been appointed District Police Chief, Kollam Rural.
- Vishnu Pratheep T.K. has been posted as District Police Chief, Alappuzha.
- Abdul Rashi A. has been appointed District Police Chief, Palakkad.
- S. Deva Manohar has been posted as District Police Chief, Wayanad.
- Nidhinraj P. has been appointed District Police Chief, Kasaragod.
- B.V. Vijaya Bharath Reddy has been posted as Commissioner of Police, Kannur City.
- Mohammad Nadeemuddin has been appointed District Police Chief, Thrissur Rural.
- Umesh Goyal has been posted as District Police Chief, Kannur Rural.
- Nasim A. has been appointed District Police Chief, Idukki.
Specialized Wings Get New Leadership
The reshuffle also includes appointments in several specialized policing and administrative units.
- B. Krishna Kumar has been posted as Superintendent of Police (Railways).
- Anuj Paliwal has been appointed Assistant Inspector General (Law and Order) at Police Headquarters in a newly created ex-cadre position.
- Farash T. has been posted as Assistant Inspector General, Ernakulam Coastal Police.
- Mohanachandran Nair M.P. has been transferred as Crime Branch Superintendent of Police for the Kozhikode-Wayanad range.
- C.S. Shahul Hameed has been appointed Superintendent of Police, Central Unit-I, Crime Branch, Thiruvananthapuram.
Strategic Reorganisation of Kerala Police
The large-scale transfer exercise affects nearly every major operational wing of Kerala Police, including Law and Order, Intelligence, Crime Branch, Cyber Operations, Armed Police Battalions, Commissionerates and district policing units.
Officials believe the restructuring will improve coordination between different wings, strengthen operational efficiency and support faster decision-making across the police force.
With experienced officers taking charge of several key assignments, the reshuffle is expected to influence policing priorities and law enforcement strategies across Kerala in the coming months.
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