Jammu, May 25:
In a significant bureaucratic development, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the appointment of senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Rakesh Balwal as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The appointment, issued via an official order from New Delhi, clears Balwal’s transition to the paramilitary force on a central deputation basis under standard terms and conditions. The MHA has formally requested the Government of Manipur to relieve the officer immediately so he can assume his new central assignment.
From Udhampur to National Prominence
Rakesh Balwal is a 2012-batch IPS officer belonging to the Manipur cadre. Widely regarded as a “son of the soil” in Jammu and Kashmir, he originally hails from the Udhampur district of the Jammu region.
Balwal is highly respected within law enforcement circles for his tactical acumen, having handled several high-profile security assignments throughout his career:
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The Pulwama Investigation: During a three-and-a-half-year deputation to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as a Superintendent of Police (SP), Balwal spearheaded the complex team investigation into the tragic 2019 Pulwama terror attack, successfully uncovering the cross-border conspiracy.
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SSP Srinagar: Following his NIA tenure, he served as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Srinagar starting in late 2021, a crucial period where he managed urban policing and counter-insurgency operations in the capital.
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Return to Manipur: In late 2023, amid rising regional tensions, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet prematurely repatriated him to his parent cadre in Manipur to assist with law enforcement and stabilization efforts.
His appointment as DIG brings Balwal back into close operational contact with the CRPF—a force he worked with intimately during his stints with the NIA and J&K Police. The CRPF headquarters has been instructed by the MHA to report his official joining date as soon as he assumes charge of the top post.
