Patna, Feb. 11: The appointment of an “imported” IPS officer as Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) for the second time in the past one-and-a-half years has caused strong resentment among the IPS officers of Bihar cadre.

The state government on Thursday notified Alok Kumar, a 1997-batch IPS officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre, as the SSP of Patna. Earlier, he was posted as superintendent of rail police (SRP) at Jamalpur. He was also holding the additional charge of SP, Munger.

A senior Bihar-cadre IPS officer, who has been shunted despite his good performance in a Maoist-affected district, alleged that the home cadre officers are being sidelined while their “imported” counterparts are being given plum postings.

The officer, under the cover of anonymity, said at least three “imported” officers are currently holding key positions in Bihar. Umesh Kumar, a 1996-batch IPS officer of Karnataka cadre, has been appointed DIG, Magadh range, and Pankaj Darad, a 1995-batch IPS officer of J&K cadre, has been posted as DIG, Bettiah. Both the officers are said to be relatives of senior BJP leaders. The officer also claimed that in other states, the officers on inter-state deputation are not given important assignments. To drive home his point, he said that a Bihar-cadre IPS officer Shobha Ohatker, who currently is on inter-state deputation in her home state Maharashtra, has been deprived of prime posting in that state.

The police officer said that even direct recruit IPS officers are deprived of field postings and shunted to state police headquarters for the past several years.

Kumar, a native of Nalanda district, is currently on inter-state deputation for five years. He came to Bihar on deputation in July last year and was given his first assignment as SP (rail) at Jamalpur. He was posted as SRP, Jamalpur when the incidents of loot and dacoity in trains have suddenly gone up in the region.

Alok Kumar will take charge from SSP Bachchu Singh Meena, a 1996-batch Bihar cadre IPS officer, who has been promoted and appointed as deputy inspector-general, Tirhut range (Muzaffarpur). Meena had replaced his batch-mate Amit Kumar Jain before the Assembly elections in October-November.

Prior to Jain, Vineet Vinayak, a 1995-batch IPS officer of J&K cadre, was appointed as the SSP, Patna. Vinayak, a resident of Aurangabad district, is now posted as DIG, Central range (Patna).