Two highly decorated Indian Police Service officers from the Uttar Pradesh cadre concluded their illustrious careers on Saturday, marking the end of an era in state policing. Daljit Singh Chawdhary and Tilotma Verma, both from the 1990 batch, superannuated from UP Police after decades of exceptional service.
Fearless Field Policing and Institution Building
The careers of both officers were defined by fearless field policing, institution-building, and globally recognised service. Their retirement marks the departure of two officers who significantly shaped policing in Uttar Pradesh and beyond.
Daljit Singh Chawdhary: The Anti-Dacoity Specialist
In the challenging terrain of Uttar Pradesh's ravines and the Chambal borderlands, Daljit Singh Chawdhary's name became synonymous with relentless anti-dacoity operations. Early in his career, he served in nearly every major district of Uttar Pradesh, where he successfully dismantled some of the most feared criminal gangs.
According to Bhanu Bhaskar, Additional DG of Meerut zone, Chawdhary was known for leading from the front and cultivated a reputation for precision-driven field action while maintaining remarkable calmness under fire.
As ADG (Law & Order), Chawdhary played a pivotal role in stabilizing the state's internal security environment. His leadership capabilities extended beyond state boundaries when he went on central deputation, holding top assignments in several paramilitary forces.
His central postings included significant roles in:
- Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
- Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
- Sashastra Seema Bal as Director General
- Border Security Force in 2024
DG CID and Cyber, Binod Singh, described Chawdhary as "a man of very few words, but profound action", noting that his decisions were consistently driven by professional integrity rather than visibility concerns.
ADG Traffic A Satish Ganesh recalled the 2017 ATS-Lucknow Police operation against ISIS-linked terror suspect Saifullah in Haji Colony of Kakori. "Daljit Singh, then ADG Law and Order, monitored the operation through the night and led it from the front," said Ganesh.
A recipient of four gallantry medals, Chawdhary's discipline extended beyond policing. He is also a national-level shooter and trained skydiver, traits that colleagues say mirrored his appetite for precision and physical rigor.
Tilotma Verma: Trailblazer and Global Wildlife Leader
While Chawdhary symbolized battlefield policing, Tilotma Verma represented investigative excellence, systemic reform, and global policy leadership. Born in Shimla in 1965, she joined the IPS in 1990 and crafted one of the most diverse and decorated careers in the cadre.
Verma rose to national attention in 2002 when she became UP's first woman IPS officer to receive the President's Police Medal for Gallantry. ADG Bhaskar described a dramatic rescue during an encounter in Hathras where Verma was famously photographed holding two children in one arm and a firearm in the other while neutralizing armed criminals in an open field.
"The image remains one of the most powerful symbols of women's leadership in Indian policing," said ADG Bhaskar.
Her extensive postings included:
- Intelligence units in Lucknow
- Field policing in Varanasi, Shahjahanpur, Jhansi, Tehri Garhwal, Hathras, and Sultanpur
- Command of two PAC battalions
- SVPNPA Hyderabad as Assistant and later Deputy Director
As DIG (Anti-Corruption) with the CBI between 2006-2011, Verma oversaw major investigations involving senior bureaucrats and politicians, earning a reputation for uncompromising integrity.
Her most globally recognized contribution came as Inspector General of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB). Under her leadership, India successfully dismantled major tiger-poaching circuits at a time when tiger numbers in certain regions had plummeted to alarming levels.
Verma's inter-agency coordination with state police, SSB, and ITBP played a crucial role in reversing this dangerous trend. Her exceptional work earned her numerous international accolades including:
- Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award
- Three Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards
- UN Peacekeeping Medal
- Multiple police decorations
In 2024, Verma became DG (Training), where she ushered in major reforms in curriculum modernization, gender sensitization, scientific policing, and behavioral training.
Bhaskar credited her with significant improvement in police-public interaction during the 2025 Maha Kumbh. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's praise of Maha Kumbh for "cleanliness and the behaviour of UP Police personnel", colleagues say Verma's training reforms made that transformation possible.
Legacy of Excellence
The retirement of these two distinguished officers marks the end of an era in Uttar Pradesh policing. Both Daljit Singh Chawdhary and Tilotma Verma leave behind legacies of courage, integrity, and innovation that have shaped law enforcement in the state and earned recognition both nationally and internationally.
Their careers demonstrate the diverse paths to excellence within the Indian Police Service, from fierce anti-dacoity operations to global wildlife conservation leadership and transformative training reforms.
