New Delhi, July 22 :    New Delhi, July 22:  The sudden removal of Nikhil Kumar as special secretary in the home ministry continues to raise questions in North Block. The IPS officer, who was shunted out around three weeks ago, has since taken over as director-general of National Security Guard, a comparatively low-profile post. The buzz among Delhi?s bureaucrats is that Kumar is yet another victim of ??manipulation by a section of powerful pro-government journalists??. Kumar?s removal is part of a series of inexplicable transfers in the ministry. Earlier this year, B.P. Singh was eased out as home secretary. Similarly, V.N. Singh was removed as Delhi police commissioner. Though the capital?s crime graph had spiralled, his personal integrity was never in doubt. Kumar?s transfer has raised eyebrows because no one faults him for ??non-performance?? or ??dereliction of duty??. As special secretary, he was handling internal security and police matters. Though some officials underscore the fact that Kumar?s father and grandfather were well-known Congress leaders from Bihar, others point out that it did not deter home minister L. K. Advani from retaining the officer when he took charge. Besides, Kumar has never been accused of taking any ?pro-Congress? decision. Kumar, thus, could have fallen prey to the machinations within. Some officials say that a senior IPS officer had a hand in the transfer. This officer found sympathetic listeners among the group of journalists who lobbied for Kumar?s exit.