Chhattisgarh IPS officer dies of cardiac arrest

Raipur, Apr 3 (IANS) Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer B.S. Maravi died of cardiac arrest in Chhattisgarh Tuesday, an official said.

Maravi, 57, known as a dynamic police officer, was posted as inspector general of the Bilaspur range. He had suffered a massive heart attack Sunday night at Bilaspur town, some 110 km from here, and was rushed to Apollo Hospital.

Belonging to the 1990 batch, he was known as a brilliant officer.

Politicians and the senior police officers recalled his contribution to the state and called him a brave and honest police officer. Maravi had successfully led several anti-Maoist drives during his lengthy postings in insurgency-hit areas.

Chief Minister Raman Singh condoled his death as "a great loss to the state" while Minister of State for Agriculture and Congress leader Charan Das Mahant termed him "a brave and bold officer" who served the state with sincerity and dedication.

The death of the Bilaspur IG came barely a month after the death of another IPS officer, Rahul Sharma, in the state. He had shot himself dead in the same Bilaspur town March 12.

The 2002-batch 37-year-old Sharma was the Bilaspur district superintendent of police when he committed suicide in mysterious circumstances.