Punjab Police chief Sumedh Singh Saini was on Sunday shunted out of the position by the State Government.
He was replaced by Suresh Arora as Director-General of Police, Punjab.
The move has reportedly come at the intervention of the Union Home Minister, who had last week spoken to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal about the developments in Punjab in the wake of incidents of desecration of 'birs' of Guru Granth Sahib.
Nearly four years back when the SAD-led Punjab Government came to power, one of the first decisions it took was to appoint Saini as the Director General of Police (DGP).
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal’s first choice, the Government stood by him through thick and thin despite controversies that kept cropping up during his tenure, including handling Dinangar terrorist attack, Sikh prisoners issue, among others.
The sudden decision, that was reportedly taken on Saturday late night, took everyone by surprise and generated speculation on the reason behind shifting him to the Punjab Police Housing Corporation on the same position.
Saini was posted as chairman of Punjab Police Housing Corporation in a move seen to pacify frayed tempers and resentment brewing against the state police force after the recent firing in Faridkot district that left two Sikhs dead during a protest against the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib.
It has been learnt that the decision was taken at the intervention of the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who had last week spoken to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal about the developments in Punjab in the wake of incidents of desecration of 'birs' of Guru Granth Sahib.
But insiders insist that the senior Badal was, since long, not too happy with Saini and his removal was an aftermath of Badal’s direct intervention at a time when the functioning of Punjab police came under severe criticism.
Sources informed The Pioneer that the decision to transfer Saini came after his meetings with the father-son duo on Saturday evening and also on Sunday morning.
It is believed that the State’s political leadership, after taking stock of the prevailing situation in the State, has asked Saini to step down. Saini, on October 16, had met Sukhbir, who also holds the home portfolio, and had offered to resign if it would help stem the resentment against Punjab Police.
Punjab Police has recently came in the line of fire of not only the opposition, but also the ruling SAD and BJP for its failure to check the back-to-back incidents of sacrilege of Sikhs’ holy book coupled with the killing of two protesters during a dharna against the incidents.
It also came under attack for not acting at the time when the ‘bir’ was reportedly first stolen in June. Subsequently, during the protests against desecration, tempers were particularly frayed when the police opened fire at protesters at Behbal Kalan village in Faridkot, which left two persons dead and more than 50 injured.
The police had claimed to solve the sacrilege incident at Bargari village, the first in the series of total seven, by arresting two brothers Rupinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh of Panjgarayin village in Fardikot district claiming that they acted on the behest of foreign handlers in Australia and Dubai and was funded by them.
However, the police theory came under severe doubt after the “foreign handlers”, named by the police, openly claimed that they had sent money for the treatment of injured and through legal mode.
The decision to remove Saini from the post of state’s top cop is being seen as an indication of senior Badal asserting himself and taking the reins in his hands. Available information suggests that Badal all along had reservations on allowing Saini to continue as the DGP but could not do much as Saini was always considered as Sukhbir’s blue eyed boy.
Punjab’s new top cop Suresh Arora, said to be Badal’s choice, has served as SSP in almost all districts besides serving as the DIG, CM Security, after the assassination of the then Chief Minister Beant Singh.
Serving as the state vigilance till now, Arora has been known for his uprightness. A postgraduate in law from the University of london, Arora has won various gallantry medals and awards, including the President’s Meritorious Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal and the Prakram Medal.
The Election Commission of India had also appointed Arora as the state DGP ahead of the 2014 lok Sabha poll after choosing his name among three officers.
Arora had played a crucial role in fighting terrorism and was posted as SP (Headquarters), Amritsar, during Operation Black Thunder I, and as SSP Amritsar at the time of Operation Black Thunder II.
ARORA TO TOUR STATE
Seeking full corporation from one and all, Punjab’s new Director General of Police Suresh Arora will set on a state tour from Monday. Starting from Amritsar, Arora will visit all districts to interact with the people and the police force.
Arora, interacting with the media immediately after taking over DGP’s charge, outlined communal harmony and maintenance of law and order in the state as his top priority.
He pointed out that he was taking over this responsibility at a crucial time and sought sometime to deliver what was being expected.
“I am always open to everybody and would soon visit the different places to interact with the people and my force,” he said. “Tomorrow, I will visit Amritsar to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple and Durgiana Mandir and meet the border zone officers,” he said.
Stating that it was our joint responsibility to ensure peace at every cost in the state, he said that justice would be done with every aggrieved besides ensuring transparency, free and fair investigation in the incidents of sacrilege.
He appealed the agitating groups to keep in view the hardships being faced by common masses especially women and children.
Arora once again reiterated that anybody having any grievance can approach him. He categorically said that the state police would not leave any stone unturned to bring to book the culprits of sacrilege of holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
SAINI’S REMOVAl WAS OVERDUE: CAPT AMARINDER
Congress Deputy leader in the lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday said that the removal of Sumedh Singh Saini as the DGP was long overdue and he should have been replaced long back.
“While his removal is a welcome step, people of Punjab will not be satisfied till the guilty in Bargadi (Kotkapura) firing incident are not dismissed and charged with murder,” he said.
Capt Amarinder hoped that the new DGP Suresh Arora, who has a reputation of being an upright officer, comes up to the expectations of the people and stops shielding the guilty cops to restore public confidence in police functioning.