Heartfelt Tributes to Martyred STF Inspector Sunil Kumar with State Honors

Uttar Pradesh – In an unfortunate loss to the Uttar Pradesh Police Department, the encounter specialist, STF Inspector Sunil Kumar, was killed on Wednesday. His death left the entire fraternity of the police in shock and mourning.

Inspector Sunil Kumar was an officer of the highest caliber, who had played crucial roles in several high-profile operations, including encounters with notorious dacoits and gangsters like Dadua, Thokia, and Dujana. He had also neutralized dacoit Umar Kevat, for which he was given an out-of-turn promotion.

This was on the night of Monday, 20th January; Inspector Sunil Kumar and his team were involved in an intense gun battle with members of the Kagga gang in Shamli. Operation led to the killing of four criminals, but Inspector Kumar received two bullet injuries in his abdomen that later became fatal.

A Life Dedicated to Service

Inspector Sunil Kumar hailed from Masuri village in Meerut’s Incholi area. He was from a poor farming family. His father, Charan Singh, is no more, and his 80-year-old mother, Atarkali, survives him. His elder brother Anil Kumar lives in the village and looks after the family’s farming land.

Inspector Kumar is survived by his wife Munesh, son Manjit (Monu), and daughter Neha, who are married. His family currently lives in Gurugram.

Villagers remember Kumar as a bright and diligent student who used to help his father in farming but later chose the police force over agriculture, which was inspired by the allure of the uniform. After completing his primary education in the village, he graduated from a school in Mawana and later pursued higher education.
Sunil Kumar joined Uttar Pradesh Police as a constable on 1st September 1990. He was given commando training at Manesar, Haryana in the year 1997 after the formation of the STF. For his excellent performances, he kept getting promotions. He was Platoon Commander in 2011 and Dalnayak in 2020.

During his 16-year tenure with the STF, Kumar was a part of several landmark operations, including:

• 2008: Neutralized Ambika Patel alias Thokia, a dreaded dacoit with a bounty of ₹5 lakh.
• 2012: Arrested gangsters Sushil alias Mooch, Badan Singh alias Baddo, and Bhupendra Bafar.
• 2019: Eliminated Adesh Balyan in an encounter.
• 2023: Played a key role in taking down Anil Nagar alias Anil Dujana.
• 2024: Killed gangster Anil alias Sonu alias Matka in an operation.

A Legacy of Bravery

Inspector Kumar was one of the finest officers in strategizing and executing encounters. Retired IPS officer Rajesh Pandey spoke about the great skills Kumar possessed in practical encounter tactics, “He was a fearless officer who always led from the front. His strategy and execution during critical operations were remarkable.

• 2024: Arrested ISI agent Tahseem alias Mota from Muzaffarnagar.
• 2023: Caught shooters Sunny Kakaran and Ravi Kumar in a shootout.
• 2021: Caught ₹1 lakh bounty dacoit As Mohammad alias Asu from Muzaffarnagar.

Awards and Decorations

Inspector Kumar has been decorated with several awards for his bravery and commitment, including:

• 2015: Sarvottam Seva Samman.
• 2022: Uttam Seva Samman. \
• 2024: Director General’s Commendation – Silver. \
• 2024: Outstanding Service Medal from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  Inspector Kumar’s body was taken to his native village for the last rites. His nephew Ajit Kumar said, “Though his office was only 23 km away, he would come home only once in 20 days, as he was completely devoted to his duty.

Inspector Sunil Kumar would have been retiring in 2030, but untimely death has resulted in a difficult situation to replace him. His loss at Shamli serves as an incisive reminder of what police officers go through on a day-to-day basis in order to secure the well-being of their communities.

Inspector Sunil Kumar will never be forgotten by people of Uttar Pradesh; he stood tall as one of the gutsy officers in his life’s character of dedication and sacrifice.

In a fierce encounter with miscreants in Shamli district, Inspector Sunil Kumar of the STF Meerut was martyred. Meerut Zone ADG Police and Meerut Range DIGP Deputy Inspector General / Senior Superintendent of Police, Muzaffarnagar District Magistrate, Meerut Senior Superintendent of Police, STF Meerut and other officers and officials offered respects to the mortal remains of the martyr. A wreath laying ceremony was performed in the Reserve Police Line, Meerut. Here, he went to meet the bereaved family and made heart-wrenching tributes along with the state honours and ceremonial salute.