Sundarraj Pattilingam named NIA inspector general after India Maoist-free declaration

India Jun 17, 2026

Sundarraj Pattilingam is stepping in as the new inspector general of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), nearly three months after the government declared India Maoist-free this March.
He's a 2003-batch IPS officer and will take charge once released from his current role in Chhattisgarh.

Pattilingam reduced Sukma, Bijapur, Narayanpur violence

Pattilingam spent 12 years tackling Maoist violence in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, including seven years as police chief.
Thanks to his leadership and specialized training in counter-insurgency, districts like Sukma, Bijapur, and Narayanpur saw a big drop in violence.
While most areas are now calm, West Singhbhum remains the only district of concern, where Misir Besra is believed to be hiding in the Saranda forest.