In the high-stakes world of civil services, where aspirants often chase the elusive top 100, an officer who secured rank 786 in the UPSC CSE 2014 is demonstrating that the number on an appointment letter is no measure of one’s impact on the nation’s security. Dr. GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, the IPS officer currently in the spotlight for dismantling a sprawling Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror module, is a testament to how operational brilliance, not just examination rank, defines a legacy.
The recent terror bust, which led to the seizure of nearly 2,900 kg of explosives and the arrest of several individuals, including Kashmiri doctors, has its origins in a seemingly minor event in mid-October. When Urdu posters signed by JeM ‘Commander Hanzala Bhai’ appeared in Nowgam, Srinagar, many dismissed them as routine militant propaganda. But for Dr. Chakravarthy, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Srinagar, it was a red flag that demanded immediate and thorough investigation.
The Doctor-Turned-“Operations Specialist”
Dr. Chakravarthy’s path to the IPS was unconventional. Born in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, in 1988 to a family of medical professionals, he seemed destined for a career in medicine. He completed his MBBS from Kurnool Medical College in 2010 and even practiced briefly. However, a call to serve in a different capacity led him to the civil services, where he joined the AGMUT cadre of the IPS.
His medical background, far from being irrelevant, has become a unique asset. Colleagues and subordinates describe him as an “Operations Specialist,” whose methodical, evidence-based approach, honed in medical school, strengthens his forensic and scientific policing techniques.
A Career Forged in the Fire of Jammu & Kashmir
Unlike many of his batchmates who may have taken postings in quieter Union Territories, Dr. Chakravarthy’s career has been almost entirely within the challenging theatre of Jammu and Kashmir. His resume reads like a tour of the region’s most sensitive hotspots. Before taking charge as SSP Srinagar on 21 April 2025, Dr Chakravarthy held several sensitive postings:
- SDPO in the insurgency-prone areas of Uri and Sopore
- SP Operations in Baramulla
- SP South Srinagar
- District leadership roles as SP/SSP in Handwara, Kupwara, Kulgam, and Anantnag
- AIG (Civil), J&K Police Headquarters
These assignments placed him at the frontlines of counterinsurgency and community policing efforts. His colleagues describe him as an “operations specialist” known for detailed planning, rapid response, and forensic-led policing.
Decorated Officer With Medical Precision
Dr Chakravarthy has won:
- President’s Police Medal for Gallantry – six times
- J&K Police Medal for Gallantry – four times
- Indian Army Chief’s Commendation Disc
Colleagues credit his medical background for strengthening his forensic and scientific approach to policing.
The Poster That Unraveled a Pan-India Plot
The Nowgam posters, which warned locals against “sheltering Indian predators,” were the spark that ignited a major counter-terror operation. Under Dr. Chakravarthy’s leadership, a case was swiftly registered under the UAPA, and CCTV footage was scoured. This led to the identification and detention of three individuals with previous records of stone-pelting.
Their interrogation unlocked the case, pointing to Maulvi Irfan Ahmad from Shopian. The digital trail from Ahmad’s devices revealed a network stretching far beyond Kashmir into Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. A special team was dispatched to Faridabad, leading to the arrest of Dr. Muzammil Ganaie, a doctor from Pulwama working at a medical college there.
This breakthrough exposed what investigators have termed a “white-collar terror module,” leading to further arrests of doctors, including Dr. Adeel Ahmad Rather and Dr. Shaheen Sayeed, and the massive seizure of explosives and AK-series rifles.
Rank is Just a Number, Impact is Everything
Dr. Chakravarthy’s journey underscores a critical, often-overlooked truth in the civil services: the initial rank is merely an entry point. His story is one of relentless dedication, courage, and the application of a unique skill set in one of India’s most demanding postings.
As security agencies continue to connect the dots following the tragic Red Fort blast in Delhi, the swift action led by Dr. Chakravarthy is seen as having potentially averted an even greater catastrophe. From a medical graduate in Kurnool to the SSP of Srinagar with a rank of 786 – very ironical given its correlation to Muslims, his career stands as an inspiring narrative of how purpose-driven service, not a rank number, truly defines a officer’s contribution to the nation.
(Source: Siasat)
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