Chhattisgarh IPS Officer Ankita Sharma Fires AK-47 After Shastra Puja During Dussehra
Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, 21st October 2026: A video of Chhattisgarh IPS officer Ankita Sharma firing an AK-47 rifle while dressed in a saree has gained attention on social media after she participated in the traditional Shastra Puja ceremony on the occasion of Vijayadashami on 20th October.
Sharma, who is currently serving as the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Rajnandgaon district, was seen handling the rifle and firing rounds into the air following the weapons worship ceremony at the police lines. The event was organised as part of the annual Dussehra tradition observed by police personnel and security forces.
During Shastra Puja, weapons and equipment used by the police department are worshipped as part of the Vijayadashami observance. The ceremony also included the worship of departmental vehicles, with police officers and personnel present.
A video of Sharma firing the AK-47 was shared widely online, drawing attention to the officer’s handling of the rifle in traditional attire. Reports stated that she fired nine rounds into the air after the puja.
Sharma is a 2018-batch Indian Police Service officer belonging to the Chhattisgarh cadre. She secured All India Rank 203 in the Union Public Service Commission’s Civil Services Examination in 2017, clearing the examination on her third attempt.
During her career, Sharma has served in several postings across Chhattisgarh, including as a City Superintendent of Police in Raipur. In May 2022, she was appointed the first woman Superintendent of Police of Khairagarh. She has also been associated with anti-Naxal operations in the state’s affected regions.
Her work in law enforcement and her firm policing style have earned her the popular nickname ‘Lady Singham’.
Shastra Puja is traditionally performed on Vijayadashami, a festival associated with the victory of good over evil. Police departments and security forces observe the ritual to mark the importance of the weapons and equipment used in their duties.
The video of Sharma’s firing during the ceremony has since become a talking point online, placing the focus on the IPS officer and the longstanding tradition of Shastra Puja during Dussehra.
