From UP encounters to Bengal polls—who is 'Singham' Ajay Sharma?

The deployment of Ajay Pal Sharma as an observer in West Bengal's South 24-Parganas has sparked a fresh political flashpoint ahead of polling. Known for his tough policing style and often referred to as Uttar Pradesh's 'Singham', the 2011-batch IPS officer has drawn attention after videos surfaced showing him warning supporters of a candidate over alleged voter intimidation.

The Election Commission's decision to post Sharma in the sensitive district has triggered sharp reactions between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with both sides trading allegations as campaigning intensifies.

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From dentistry to policing

Born in Ludhiana, Sharma did not begin his career in policing. He initially trained as a dentist before shifting focus to civil services preparation, per India Today. Both he and his younger brother cleared the UPSC exams, with Sharma joining the police service while his sibling became an IAS officer.

Currently serving as Additional Commissioner of Police in Prayagraj, Sharma has held postings in districts such as Shamli, Noida, Jaunpur and Rampur. Over the years, he has built a reputation for leading high-risk operations.

Rise as 'encounter specialist'

Sharma first gained prominence in 2018 during his tenure in Rampur, when he pursued an accused in a case involving the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl. A subsequent encounter led to the suspect's arrest, bringing Sharma into the spotlight.

He has since been associated with multiple encounters as part of Uttar Pradesh's push for stricter law enforcement under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In a 2021 interview, Sharma reportedly said he was involved in several such operations, including nine encounter deaths and injuries to many alleged criminals. Despite the label, he has maintained that there was "nothing to like about" the tag and said, "These encounters did not happen by will; it was just chance."

Allegations and controversies

Sharma's career has also seen its share of allegations. Questions have been raised over some encounters, with opposition leaders previously calling certain cases "fake". There have also been claims of corruption and misconduct, though these cases have not progressed.

The Samajwadi Party and leaders such as Akhilesh Yadav have criticised his record, while the Trinamool Congress has also raised concerns over his posting in Bengal.

Bengal deployment sparks row

Soon after arriving in South 24-Parganas, Sharma began visiting sensitive areas, including Falta, following complaints of voter intimidation. In one widely-circulated video, he is heard warning supporters of candidate Jehangir Khan, "Tell him, we'll deal properly with him if his men continue to threaten... don't cry or regret it then."

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In another instance, he said, "Tell Jahangir to stay within the rules, or we will take strict action against him."

The remarks drew a strong response from the TMC, which said, "A word of caution to Yogi's favourite trigger-happy cowboy: step out of line, take matters into your own hands... and you will pay the price, democratically, but unforgivingly."

A video posted by TMC MP Mahua Moitra on X claims to show Sharma dancing with women in a room. Moitra stated that the video is real and not created by AI.

However, despite the accusations, Sharma has a large following on social media. A Facebook page under his name has almost 1,40,000 followers.

With voting approaching, Sharma's presence has become a key talking point, adding to the already charged political atmosphere in West Bengal.