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Punjab toes EC line, shifts DIGs

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 8. The Punjab government today shifted two more senior police officers in compliance with the Election Commission's directive.

The Home Secretary ordered the Faridkot range, DIG Gurinderpal Singh Garewal, to swap places with the Jalandhar range DIG, Paramjit Singh Sarao, with immediate effect.

The transfers have come in the wake of a series of complaints lodged with the EC by the Parkash Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) which had been demanding transfer of nine police officers, alleging they had been posted by the Amarinder Singh government at crucial places to help the ruling Congress in the May 10 Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. Yesterday, the party submitted a memorandum to the EC here, reiterating their demand as also deployment of Central paramilitary forces in Faridkot and Patiala Lok Sabha constituencies. Former Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal's son, Sukhbir Singh Badal, is seeking election from Faridkot, while the Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh's wife Parneet Kaur is the Congress candidate from Patiala.

Mr. Garewal is a prosecution witness in the corruption case against Mr. Badal and his son Sukhbir Badal, while Mr. Sarao is the brother of Punjab Assembly Deputy Spaker, Bir Davinder Singh.

Yesterday, the government had ordered transfer of the police chiefs of Ropar and Ferozepur districts with immediate effect.

Surinderpal Singh, SSP Ropar, will now be SP, Punjab Vigilance Bureau, based at Chandigarh, while Harinder Singh Chahal, SSP, Ferozepur, will be SP, Chief Minister's Security, also at Chandigarh.

In this case, Mr. Singh, is the investigating officer in the graft case registered against the Badals on June 25 last year.

Mr. Chahal, on the other hand, had become controversial because of his proximity with the present ruling establishment. His son is one of the seven DSPs who were recently recruited by the Punjab government bypassing the Punjab Public Service Commission. The controversial recruitment made by the state Home department under the sports quota has been challenged in Punjab and Haryana High Court which without staying recruitment, appointment and posting of the seven police officers, had, however, directed withholding their salary till the outcome of petition.

--UNI

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• Punjab toes EC line, shifts DIGs

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