New Delhi, Dec 4 (UNI) Lakshadweep Administrator Dineshwar Sharma passed away on Friday at the age of 66 at a hospital in Chennai due to lung related complications, the officials said.
President Ramnath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have condoled his demise.
Prior to his appointment as the Administrator of Lakshadweep in October last year, Sharma also served as the central government's interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast.
A native of Gaya district in Bihar, he joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1979 and served as Superintendent of Police (SP) in Cannanore, Wayanad and Kasargod districts of Kerala.
In addition, he served as the Commandant of Malabar Special Police Battalion and Assistant Inspector General of Police at Police HQ in Thiruvananthapuram.
He joined the Intelligence Bureau as Assistant Director in January 1991 and took over as the 25th Director of IB in 2014.
During his tenure, he handled a number of assignments including counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.
Dineshwar Sharma was also appointed an interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir in 2017. In this role, he held dialogues with the elected representatives, various organisations and concerned individuals in Jammu and Kashmir.
He was recipient of the prestigious Indian Police Medal for the meritorious service in 1997 followed by the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2003. He is survived by his wife, a son and daughter.
“The demise of Shri Dineshwar Sharma, administrator of Lakshadweep is shocking. An outstanding police officer, Shri Sharma’s expertise in internal security was particularly noteworthy. My deepest condolences to his family and friends”, President Kovind said in a tweet.
Expressing grief over the demise of Mr Sharma, PM Modi said “Administrator of Lakshadweep Shri Dineshwar Sharma Ji made long lasting contributions to India's policing and security apparatus. He handled many sensitive counter terror and insurgency operations during his policing career. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family. Om Shanti”.
“Deeply anguished to learn about the passing away of Administrator of Lakshadweep Shri Dineshwar Sharma ji. He served the nation with utmost devotion as a dedicated officer of the Indian Police Service. My heartfelt condolences to his family in this hour of grief. Om Shanti”, Home Minister Amit Shah said in his tweet message.
UNI AKS SHK2005