Bhopal: Manish Shankar Sharma, a distinguished Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and Special Director General of Police for Indian Railways, passed away on Monday at a hospital in New Delhi after battling cancer. His final rites are set to be held in Bhopal.
Sharma, a 1992 batch IPS officer, held a postgraduate degree in Internal Affairs and Public Policy from the University of California, with a focus on international security and counter-terrorism.
Throughout his career, Sharma made significant contributions to law enforcement, counter-terrorism, and diplomacy. He participated in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Europe and played a key role in improving India’s transportation security systems.
Notably, he was honored with a special recognition when the then-mayor of San Diego, USA, declared July 20, 2015, as “Manish S Sharma Day” in his honor.
Sharma’s accolades included the National Law Day Award, the Ease of Doing Business Award, the Roll of Honour, and the RN Zutshi Award. His career spanned a wide range of roles both domestically and internationally, including serving as an Indian Trade Diplomat in Dubai, where he managed trade relations across 22 countries in West Asia and Africa.
In India, he served in various significant positions, including as the Inspector General of Police, Director General of Aviation Security for airports nationwide, and as Chief of Police during a UN peacekeeping mission in Europe. He also held Superintendent of Police positions in Raisen, Satna, Chhindwara, and Khandwa.
A native of Narmadapuram (formerly Hoshangabad), Sharma came from a notable family—his father, K.S. Sharma, was the state’s Chief Secretary, and his uncle, Dr. Sita Sharan Sharma, served as the Speaker of the State Assembly.