In a major reshuffle of the top brass of the police andother officials, the Punjab government on Friday transferred 123 officers intotal, including, an ADGP, one Zonal Inspector General, two DIGs, 28 IPS, 13PPS officers, 13 SSPs, 64 DSPs and all three commissioners of police.
These transfers ahead of polls are being consideredsignificant as the officials are likely to remain posted on their new chargeduring the Assembly elections in February.
Besides, with Congress government facing flak fromfarmers, teachers, youth, industrialist and businessmen over unfulfilled pollpromises and other core issues like elimination of drugs, unemployment,regularisation of teachers, farm laws and among other issues, the new postingsare seen as nothing but another political move to woo voters and do imagebuilding.
However, sources in political circles see these transfersas the Congress government’s final nail in the coffin ahead of polls. They saywith these new postings, the Congress government aims to improve law and ordersituation in the state and build an atmosphere of united Punjab or morespecifically united Congress to give away the message that internal issues havebeen resolved and they are committed towards Punjab’s development.
While some of the major transfers are of Shashi PrabhaDwivedi, who has been posted as ADGP (Vigilance Bureau) in place of Vibhu Raj,who now will be ADGP (Lokpal) and IG Naunihal Singh, who is new Ludhiana CPreplacing IG Rakesh Aggarwal, who has been now given charge of IG, Ropar Range,there are also some postings which are being termed as politically motivated.
As per sources, the posting of Navjot Mahal from SSPHoshiarpur to Commandant 7th Bn PAP, Jalandhar and being given an additionalcharge AIF STF Jalandhar, is somehow because of the tough bond that CaptAmarinder and Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa share after latter’s remarksfavouring Sidhu amid Punjab Congress Crisis.
Similarly, the posting of Harmanbir Singh Gill from SSPMoga to SSP Nawanshahr has become a talking point in political circles withbureaucrats questioning his transfer in the same rank as SSP.
According to sources, in the recent past, a politicalcontroversy broke out in Moga involving Harmanbir Singh Gill, and it was beingspeculated he will be transferred and given another rank. However, with Gill’sbrother MP Jasbir Singh Gill (Dimpa) sharing a close bond with Capt Amarinder,he has been simply transferred to Nawanshahr on the same rank.
Furthermore, the transfers of CP’s Vikramjeet Duggal inAmritsar, Dr Sukhchain Gill in Jalandhar and Gurpreet Singh Bhullar as DIGLudhiana range, are seen as routine affairs having motives concerninf law and order situation in different districts.
Meanwhile, the government has also transferred 15 IAS andthree PCS officers. KK Yadav is now director (public relations), while Sibin C,director (industries and commerce) has been given the additional charge ofdirector, Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration. Also, Senu Duggal, additional secretary information and publicrelations, will now also hold the additional charge of CEO, Punjab Bureau ofInvestment Promotion.
Moreover, there were speculations after Punjab ChiefMinister Amarinder Singh met Congress president Sonia Gandhi recently in Delhithat a possible Cabinet reshuffle in the state is on the cards. However, in asurprise move, in place of cabinet rejig, the government announced major policereorganization.
But will this reshuffle or even a cabinet rejig, wouldhelp Congress make a comeback still remains a big question as issues likePunjab Congress Crisis, jobs to MLAs sons, Sacrilege case, Sumedh Saini case,Farmers protest among other issues has severely affected party’s image in thepast many months.
Here's complete list of recent transfers:
