Gangtok: Former Director General of Police (DGP) of Sikkim and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rumesh Kumar Handa, popularly known as R.K. Handa, passed away on October 22, 2026. He was 84, based on his reported birth year of 1942.
A retired 1967-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the West Bengal cadre, Handa had a long career in police administration, serving in important positions across West Bengal before heading the Sikkim Police.
His professional journey extended beyond conventional policing. From managing law-and-order challenges in the Darjeeling Hills to overseeing traffic, armed police, railway security and fire services, he held several senior administrative responsibilities.
Following his retirement from the IPS, Handa entered electoral politics through the BJP and contested both parliamentary and assembly elections in West Bengal.
Who Was IPS R.K. Handa?
Rumesh Kumar Handa was born in 1942 and belonged to the 1967 batch of the Indian Police Service. He was allotted the West Bengal cadre, where he spent a substantial part of his policing career.
Over the years, he served in a range of senior positions involving public order, police administration, traffic management and specialised security responsibilities.
He eventually became Director General of Police of Sikkim, serving the northeastern state on deputation.
Handa was also recognised for his contribution to public safety and administration. In 1994, he received the Home Guards and Civil Defence Medal for Meritorious Service.
His career reflected the responsibilities of an IPS officer across different branches of policing, including field-level law-and-order management and leadership of specialised state organisations.
Role During Darjeeling Hills Agitations
One of the notable chapters of Handa’s policing career was his association with law-and-order management in the Darjeeling Hills during a period of political and regional unrest.
The hills witnessed growing demands for a separate administrative identity during the 1980s, creating challenges for the West Bengal administration and police.
Handa was credited by colleagues with handling sensitive policing responsibilities during the early phase of unrest in the region.
His work required coordination between police units and civil authorities in an environment marked by political tensions and public mobilisation.
The experience became one of the frequently recalled aspects of his service career, particularly among those who worked with him in West Bengal.
Senior Police Postings in West Bengal
Before his assignment in Sikkim, Handa held several important positions in the West Bengal Police establishment.
He served as Joint Commissioner of Police (Armed Police), a role involving the supervision of armed police units and their operational preparedness.
He also worked as Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), overseeing responsibilities connected with traffic enforcement and management.
At the state police headquarters, Handa served as Inspector General of Police (Headquarters), an important administrative assignment involving coordination and supervision of police functions.
He additionally held the position of Inspector General of Police (Railways), where his responsibilities related to policing and security across the railway network.
These postings gave him experience across operational, administrative and specialised branches of policing before he assumed higher leadership responsibilities.
First Director General of West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services
Another significant assignment in Handa’s career was his role in the West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services.
He is remembered as the first Director General of the organisation, a position associated with the leadership and administration of the state’s fire and emergency response establishment.
The assignment marked an extension of his administrative responsibilities beyond conventional police duties into emergency services and public safety management.
His association with the organisation formed an important part of his professional record before his later service as Sikkim DGP.
Appointment as Sikkim Director General of Police
Handa subsequently served on deputation in Sikkim, where he became Director General of Police.
As the head of the state police force, he occupied the highest police leadership position in Sikkim, with responsibilities relating to law enforcement, police administration and overall security coordination.
His appointment represented a major milestone in a career that had already included several senior assignments in West Bengal.
He eventually retired from the Indian Police Service after decades of public service.
From IPS Officer to BJP Leader
Following his retirement from the police service, Handa entered politics by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal.
His political career brought him into electoral contests in North 24 Parganas, particularly in the Barrackpore region.
Having served in senior administrative and police leadership roles, Handa brought decades of government experience into his political activities.
Contested 2014 Lok Sabha Election from Barrackpore
Handa contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from the Barrackpore parliamentary constituency as the BJP candidate.
He faced Trinamool Congress candidate Dinesh Trivedi and CPI(M) candidate Subhashini Ali in a closely watched electoral contest.
According to the election results, Handa secured 2,30,401 votes and finished third. Dinesh Trivedi won the seat with 4,79,206 votes, while Subhashini Ali finished second with 2,72,433 votes.
During the election campaign, Handa was reportedly injured in a road accident when his SUV collided with another vehicle on the Kalyani Expressway.
Despite the setback and his eventual electoral defeat, he continued his association with the BJP.
Contested 2016 West Bengal Assembly Election from Bhatpara
Handa again entered the electoral arena during the 2016 West Bengal Assembly election, contesting from Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas on a BJP ticket.
He secured 14,333 votes, finishing third behind Trinamool Congress candidate Arjun Singh and independent candidate Jitendra Shaw.
Arjun Singh won the constituency with 59,253 votes, while Jitendra Shaw received 30,318 votes.
The assembly election marked another significant chapter in Handa’s political journey following his retirement from policing.
Educational Background and Personal Details
Handa’s 2016 election affidavit provides additional information about his academic and personal background.
According to the affidavit, he was the son of the late Mohanlal Handa and held a PhD in Applied Psychology from the University of Calcutta, completed in 2002.
His declared profession included serving as a director of a board school, alongside his identification as a retired Sikkim DGP.
The affidavit also recorded that he had no declared criminal cases at the time of the 2016 election.
Remembering R.K. Handa’s Legacy
R.K. Handa’s professional journey covered two distinct fields of public life: senior police administration and electoral politics.
As an IPS officer, he held important assignments in West Bengal, contributed to public safety administration and went on to lead the Sikkim Police.
His service was recognised through the Home Guards and Civil Defence Medal for Meritorious Service in 1994.
After retirement, he remained active in public affairs through the BJP, contesting parliamentary and assembly elections in West Bengal.
His passing on October 22, 2026, marks the end of a career that extended from the Indian Police Service to active political participation.
Read also: Who Was IPS Ram Prakash? Former J&K Cadre Officer Known for Face-Off With CM G.M. Shah Passes Away
