M A I N   N E W S

Punjab shifts two DIGs; Akalis call it eyewash
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 8
Swapping of positions by Deputy Inspectors-General (DIG) of Police of Faridkot and Jalandhar Ranges ordered today by the Punjab Government on the directions of the Election Commission of India notwithstanding, the Shiromani Akali Dal described the transfers as mere eyewash.

Mr Gurinderpal Singh Grewal, DIG, Faridkot Range, and Mr Paramjit Singh Sarao, DIG, Jalandhar Range, were today asked to swap positions. The Akalis held that today’s transfer orders were “mischievous” and an attempt to show down the Election Commission.

The Shiromani Akali Dal had protested to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) here yesterday alleging that certain police officers had been given key field positions with an eye to influence the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections.

The Akalis had maintained in their signed memorandum that Mr Gurinderpal Singh Grewal had deposed against Mr Parkash Singh Badal in a bribery case and after his deposition he was posted in Faridkot, the constituency from where Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal is contesting the Lok Sabha elections.

Mr Paramjit Singh Sarao, the Akalis had held, was a brother of the Deputy Speaker, Mr Bir Devinder Singh.

“Even at their new place of posting, these officers,” held the Akalis, “will continue to play a proactive role for the ruling Congress party in the state.” Further, the Akalis had demanded transfer of the Chief Director of Vigilance Bureau, Mr A. P. Pandey; Inspector-General of Police (Zonal - Patiala), Mr Rajinder Singh, besides Senior Superintendents of Police of Batala ,Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur, Superintendent of Police of Amritsar, and a couple of other Deputy Superintendents of Police, who, they alleged, were closely aligned to the Chief Minister politically.

Other transfers cannot be ruled out, said a spokesman of the Home Department holding that all directions of the Election Commission issued so far had been complied with. Even the names for the post of SSP of Ropar and Ferozepore have been recommended to the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab. After clearance, new district police chiefs would be named.

The Akalis had demanded that police officers, against whom they had sufficient grounds to prove their political alignment with the ruling Congress, should be removed from the key field positions held by them.

“We hope the Election Commission will take action against them in due course of time to ensure free and fair poll,” they said.