Arun Kumar Sinha, the director of the Special Protection Group (SPG), passed away early Wednesday morning while receiving treatment at a hospital in Gurgaon. For the previous few months, the 61-year-old Indian Police Service (IPS) officer was undergoing medical treatment for liver-related ailments.

According to a senior officer, the officer had been ill for a few days and was being treated at a private hospital in Gurgaon. The deceased officer’s family members were in the hospital when he passed, and other government officials were informed of his death.

WHO WAS ARUN KUMAR SINHA?

Sinha, who was born in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, began his career as an assistant superintendent of police at Mananthavady, Wayanad, Kerala, in 1989. Later, he was sent as a Special Police Officer in different sensitive districts and served as the Commissioner of Police in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi. He had been the Inspector General for the South Zone and the Police Administration at the headquarters. Sinha was known for effectively leading various crime investigation teams and solving numerous cases.

Sinha, a science graduate, pioneered the famed “Crime Stopper System (1090)” in Kerala Police, which was later adopted by other states. He constructed Kerala Police’s computer network and launched the country’s first police website. He was also instrumental in building Kerala’s first cyber police station and coastal police section. He also spent a lot of time in community policing.

He was transferred to the central deputation in 2009 and oversaw the BSF’s Gujarat Frontier for five years. Under his guidance, the BSF obtained access to the formerly inaccessible Harami Nala area and erected stations there, limiting the entrance of Pakistani nationals. He formed the stream Crocodile Amphibious Commando Team to execute specialized operations in the stream area. Under his command, the BSF’s first Marine Battalion was formed in the Bhuj Sector.

Sinha fine-tuned all close protection drills in SPG and devised many specialized training apparatus/programs to increase SPG personnel’s professional acumen. Under his direction, the SPG built a cutting-edge residential complex for its staff.

On May 30, 2023, the day before his retirement, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a one-year extension of his service. Sinha was also a member of the Border Security Force (BSF). He spent the majority of his career in Kerala, where he was also in charge of women’s protection and Non-Resident Indian affairs.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed condolences on Sinha’s demise, saying he was an efficient officer who had executed many responsibilities in the state police.