Major IPS reshuffle in Bihar; Siwan SP Puran Kumar Jha removed
Patna, Aug 18 (IANS) The Bihar government on Tuesday carried out a major reshuffle of IPS officers, transferring several SPs and SSPs across the state and making changes in key police and vigilance assignments.
The reshuffle covers officers from the 2010 to 2022 batches and includes appointments in Prohibition, Vigilance, Special Vigilance Unit (SVU), Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), Human Rights, Civil Defence and other important wings.
The most notable decision in the reshuffle is the removal of Puran Kumar Jha (2018 batch) from the post of Siwan SP.
He has been transferred to the Bihar Police Headquarters in Patna and is currently awaiting a fresh posting.
His removal comes against the backdrop of the Siwan student-protest controversy, in which an AK-47 was allegedly used during the July 25 incident.
A constable was subsequently suspended, while the opposition had been demanding action against senior police officials as well.
The transfer of Jha is therefore likely to attract considerable political attention, particularly as the RJD has been making the Siwan incident a central issue in its upcoming August 19 Lok Bhawan March over student and youth-related concerns.
Besides him, the Home Department has transferred Anil Kumar (2010 batch) as DIG, Prohibition and NNTF (Noose and Narcotics Task Force), Bihar. He was previously working as DIG, Finance and Technical Services.
Mrityunjay Kumar Chaudhary (2010 batch) has been transferred as DIG, Civil Defence. He previously served as a DIG, Vigilance Investigation Bureau.
Rajiv Ranjan-2 (2012 batch) was transferred as a DIG, Special Vigilance Bureau. He previously served as a DIG, Human Rights.
Ajay Kumar Pandey (2012 batch) has been transferred as DIG, Finance and Technical Services. He previously served as a DIG, Prohibition and NNTF.
Amir Javed (2012 batch) has been appointed as DIG, Vigilance Investigation Bureau. He previously served as a DIG, Weaker Sections and Women’s Cell, CID.
Mithilesh Kumar (2012 batch) has been appointed as a Commandant, Bihar Special Armed Police-9, Jamalpur. He previously served as an SP in the EOU (Economic Offences Unit).
Sushil Kumar (2012 batch) has been given the additional charge of DIG, Human Rights, while continuing as DIG, Legal Affairs and Rules.
Apart from DIG-rank officers, several important districts have received new police chiefs.
Hriday Kant, a 2015-batch IPS officer, has been appointed as the new SP of Nalanda; he previously served as SP with the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Bihar.
Bharat Soni, a 2019-batch IPS officer, has been appointed as the new SP of Siwan; he was previously the SP of Nalanda.
Roshan Kumar, a 2019-batch IPS officer, has been appointed as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Saran; he was formerly the SP of Rohtas.
Raj, a 2019-batch IPS officer, has been appointed as the new SP of Rohtas; he previously served as the SP of Bhojpur.
Awadhesh Dixit, a 2019-batch IPS officer, has been appointed as the SP of Bhojpur; he was previously posted as SP (Personnel-1) at the Bihar Police Headquarters.
Garima, a 2022-batch IPS officer, has been assigned the role of SP (Weaker Sections and Women’s Cell) within the Criminal Investigation Department (CID); she was previously the Commandant of the Bihar Special Armed Police-9, Jamalpur.
Overall, the reshuffle represents a significant reorganisation of Bihar’s police leadership, particularly across sensitive districts and specialised units dealing with vigilance, prohibition, organised crime, terrorism and human rights.
–IANS
ajk/uk