CM Yogi Adityanath's encounter specialist turns EC observer for Bengal polls: Who is encounter specialist Ajay Pal Sharma?

IPS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Ajay Pal Sharma's appointment as an election observer for the West Bengal polls has created quite a stir in the state.

An IPS officer of the 2011 batch, Sharma is currently posted as Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. Known as UP's "Singham" and an "encounter specialist," Sharma was seen soon after taking charge as election observer in West Bengal, warning TMC candidates over alleged voter intimidation.

On the last day of the Bengal election campaign on Sunday, a video surfaced on social media showing Sharma visiting the residence of Jahangir Khan, a person considered close to TMC candidate and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee. In the video, he is seen issuing a stern warning to alleged associates of Khan. Sharma also reportedly found 14 West Bengal Police personnel deployed at the residence during his visit.

In another clip, Sharma can be seen reprimanding FST members for failing to locate Jahangir Khan's residence. He is heard saying, "Sharam aani chahiye tum logon ko. Yeh jo halka le rahe ho—cases sab ke sab register honge. CBI tak jayega. Daurte rehna tab."

Reacting to the development, the Trinamool Congress accused Sharma of overreach and misconduct, stating, "Yogi Adityanath's encounter specialist Ajay Pal Sharma has been parachuted in by the Election Commission as police observer for South 24 Parganas. This is the same man whose badge of honour is a body count from encounters, and whose real speciality is turning the police uniform into a tool for personal vendettas."

The party further alleged Sharma's involvement in a cash-for-postings racket, criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy, and destruction of evidence.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav also criticised the appointment, saying, "The BJP has sent its tried and tested agents in the name of observers from places like Rampur and Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh, but this will not achieve anything. Mamata Banerjee is here, and Didi will remain here," he posted on X.

The second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections is scheduled for April 29.

Ajay Pal Sharma, a 2011-batch IPS officer, is currently Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) in Prayagraj. He has earlier served as SP/SSP in five districts. During his 22-month tenure as SP in Jaunpur, he reportedly conducted 136 encounters, the highest recorded during any SP's tenure in a single district, earning him the reputation of an "encounter specialist." Before joining the IPS, he worked as a dentist and later cleared the UPSC examination in 2008. He has also served in districts such as Shamli, Noida, and Rampur, where he followed a "zero tolerance" approach toward crime.

Jahangir Khan has responded to the viral video, alleging intimidation. Speaking to news agency IANS, he said, "Around 3 pm yesterday, he came and tried to threaten my security at this party office. Then he went and tried to threaten my family. Is this the duty of a police observer? If he has to say something, he has to tell the SP or IC. There is no rule of the ECI that allows a police observer to threaten people at their homes."

He further added, "To aid the BJP, these people are doing illegal things. They are trying to threaten TMC workers and leaders because they know they won't win, but we are not afraid."