Patna, Aug. 1: The state government today transferred 43 IPS and 46 IAS officers, possibly with an eye on the upcoming Assembly elections.
The transfers gave the BJP a stick to beat the JDU government with as some promoted IPS officers got plum postings while direct IPS officers were sidelined. The BJP said the reshuffle took place because of pressure from the RJD and Congress and added that officials seen as too close to the state government will face the music following change of guard after the polls. "The officers who have been given new districts should work impartially. They must understand that leaders will change and those working under any influence will be strictly taken to task. Sabka ilaj kar denge (We will set everything right)," senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said today, threatening the officials.
Among the major transfers, Abhay Kumar Singh, a 2004-batch IAS officer who was Patna district magistrate (DM), has been transferred and made under-secretary in the general administration department. His place has been taken over by Pratima Satish Kumar Verma, a 2002-batch IAS officer who was Sitamarhi DM.
As regards IPS officers, around nine promoted officers have been made superintendents of police (SPs) of different districts and quite a few direct IPS officers sidelined and made commandants of BMP battalions.
Shivdeep Lande, 2006-batch IPS officer who was Roh-tas SP and had clamped down on illegal stone-mining mafia, has been transferred and made SP (STF) Patna. His existing place has gone to 2009-batch IPS officer Manavjeet Singh Dhillon, who was earlier Arwal SP. Kumar Akle, a 2005-batch promoted IPS officer, who was SP (STF), has been made Supaul SP.
Also, Anand Kishore, a 1996-batch IAS officer, has been made divisional commissioner of Patna. He was earlier director of the State Health Society.
Vivekanand, a promoted IPS officer who was additional SP (Town) in Patna has been made SP of Nalanda, chief minister Nitish Kumar's home district. Similarly, Upendra Kumar Sinha, who was DIG of Bihar Military Police (central zone), has been made Bhagalpur DIG. Mohammed Akhtar Hussain, promoted IPS officer of 2004 batch and an assistant to IG (welfare), has been made Madhubani SP.
P.K. Srivastava, a DIG-rank officer who was awaiting a posting, has been made DIG (Muzaffarpur range).
Patna SP (East) Sudhir Porika has been made Araria SP and his place has gone to Dhurat Sayali Sablaram, a 2010-batch IPS officer who was earlier Khagaria SP.
Chatraneel Singh, a 2005-batch IPS officer who was earlier Katihar SP, had been made commandant of the 10th and 16th battalions of BMP. Also, 2011-batch IPS officer Ashish Bharti, who was earlier Madhepura SP, has been made SP (vigilance bureau).
BJP state president Mangal Pandey said: "The state government is giving important departments to officials of their choice with an eye on the year-end Assembly elections. "
Districts that will see new DMs include Gopalganj, Seohar, Motihari, Supaul, Madhepura, Nawada, Katihar, Kaimur, Aurangabad, Arwal, Saharsa, Purnea, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Araria, Jamui, Vaishali, Siwan, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura, Samastipur, Jehanabad, Banka, Sitamarhi and Jamui etc.
Similarly, SPs of Khagaria, Gopalganj, Madhubani, Rohtas, Kaimur, Madhepura, Gaya, Arwal and Nalanda districts, among others, have been transferred.
In addition, Ravindra Kumar, a 1984-batch IPS officer who was ADG (Vigilance), has been promoted as DG (Vigilance and Civil Defence).
B. Pradhan, who was serving as Patna commissioner, has been relieved of his duties in the wake of his deputation at the Centre. "The people of Bihar are utterly disappointed by the state government and its acts now. With they (state government) seeing no hope, they have tried this huge transfer posting and are hoping that by doing so, they will cement their position in all districts. They are self-satisfied by doing the same. However, all this will not work as they have lost the faith of the people already," another BJP leader said.
