A video of Chhattisgarh IPS officer Ankita Sharma firing an AK-47 during the traditional Dussehra Shastra Puja has gone viral on social media. Dressed in a blue saree, the Rajnandgaon Superintendent of Police was seen handling the rifle after the Shastra Puja at the Rajnandgaon Police Lines, and the footage recorded by people present at the ceremony has been widely circulated online.
Shastra Puja at Rajnandgaon Police Lines
The video is from the Shastra Puja organised at the Rajnandgaon Police Lines on Vijayadashami, where weapons and official vehicles were worshipped as per tradition. Senior officials and police personnel attended the ceremony.
After the puja, Ankita Sharma was seen handling the AK-47 and, according to the source, performed celebratory aerial firing. She also extended Vijayadashami greetings on the occasion.
Why Is Shastra Puja Performed on Dussehra?
Shastra Puja is the worship of weapons, and Vijayadashami is considered an auspicious day for it. The tradition honours the weapons and tools associated with protection and duty.
For the police, the ceremony carries a symbolic meaning of responsibility towards the weapons they carry. Ceremonial use of a firearm is different from its use in professional training, and firearms must always be handled following proper safety procedures.
Who Is IPS Ankita Sharma?
Ankita Sharma is a 2018-batch IPS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre and is currently posted as Superintendent of Police, Rajnandgaon. She secured All India Rank 203 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2017 and cleared the exam in her third attempt.
Her early postings included Bhatapara, followed by CSP Azad Chowk in Raipur. In May 2022, she was appointed Superintendent of Police of Khairagarh and, according to reports, became the first woman SP of the district. She has also served in Naxal-affected areas and has been associated with anti-Naxal operations.
Why Did the Ankita Sharma Video Go Viral?
The contrast seen in the video, a blue saree paired with an AK-47, drew wide attention online and helped the clip spread quickly. Ankita Sharma is sometimes described as "Lady Singham" in media reports.
A viral clip on its own does not give a complete picture of an officer's work, and the video by itself does not establish any violation of rules.
A Traditional Ceremony in the Spotlight
What was a traditional Vijayadashami ceremony at the Police Lines has now become a talking point because of the viral video. The footage has brought the Shastra Puja tradition, and the officer seen in it, into the spotlight well beyond Rajnandgaon.
