In a major reshuffle of the top brass of the police and other officials, the Punjab government on Friday transferred 123 officers in total, including, an ADGP, one Zonal Inspector General, two DIGs, 28 IPS, 13 PPS officers, 13 SSPs, 64 DSPs and all three commissioners of police.
These transfers ahead of polls are being considered significant as the officials are likely to remain posted on their new charge during the Assembly elections in February.
Besides, with Congress government facing flak from farmers, teachers, youth, industrialist and businessmen over unfulfilled poll promises and other core issues like elimination of drugs, unemployment, regularisation of teachers, farm laws and among other issues, the new postings are seen as nothing but another political move to woo voters and do image building.
However, sources in political circles see these transfers as the Congress government’s final nail in the coffin ahead of polls. They say with these new postings, the Congress government aims to improve law and order situation in the state and build an atmosphere of united Punjab or more specifically united Congress to give away the message that internal issues have been resolved and they are committed towards Punjab’s development.
While some of the major transfers are of Shashi Prabha Dwivedi, 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 CP replacing 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 SSP Hoshiarpur to Commandant 7th Bn PAP, Jalandhar and being given an additional charge AIF STF Jalandhar, is somehow because of the tough bond that Capt Amarinder and Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa share after latter’s remarks favouring Sidhu amid Punjab Congress Crisis.
Similarly, the posting of Harmanbir Singh Gill from SSP Moga to SSP Nawanshahr has become a talking point in political circles with bureaucrats questioning his transfer in the same rank as SSP.
According to sources, in the recent past, a political controversy broke out in Moga involving Harmanbir Singh Gill, and it was being speculated he will be transferred and given another rank. However, with Gill’s brother 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 in Amritsar, Dr Sukhchain Gill in Jalandhar and Gurpreet Singh Bhullar as DIG Ludhiana range, are seen as routine affairs having motives concerninf law and order situation in different districts.
Meanwhile, the government has also transferred 15 IAS and three PCS officers. KK Yadav is now director (public relations), while Sibin C, director (industries and commerce) has been given the additional charge of director, Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration. Also, Senu Duggal, additional secretary information and public relations, will now also hold the additional charge of CEO, Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion.
Moreover, there were speculations after Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh met Congress president Sonia Gandhi recently in Delhi that a possible Cabinet reshuffle in the state is on the cards. However, in a surprise move, in place of cabinet rejig, the government announced major police reorganization.
But will this reshuffle or even a cabinet rejig, would help Congress make a comeback still remains a big question as issues like Punjab Congress Crisis, jobs to MLAs sons, Sacrilege case, Sumedh Saini case, Farmers protest among other issues has severely affected party’s image in the past many months.
Here's complete list of recent transfers:
