A major shake-up of police and bureaucracy was carried out on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir which saw a new Home Secretary, a new intelligence chief and a new post of Additional Director General (Law and Order).
The reshuffle was cleared by state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The new postings and transfers also saw entry of a 1987-batch IPS officer SM Sahai back as Inspector General (Kashmir), a post from which he was removed in 2008 after alleged failure in mob control during Amarnath agitation.
Sahai, who was not empanelled as Inspector General of Police at the Centre, replaces Farooq Ahmed who takes over as IG (Security).
In the bureaucracy, Home Secretary Samuel Verghese was shifted and posted as Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Special Tribunal. He was replaced by BR Sharma, who earlier held the post of Power Secretary.
Among other high-profile transfers, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Khurshid A Ganai has been transferred and posted as Principal Secretary, Planning and Development Department. He was replaced by Bharat Bhushan Vyas.
In police set-up, K Rajendra, a 1984 batch IPS officer, was shifted from high profile post of Additional Director General of Police (CID) to ADG (Armed Police). He will also hold the post of ADG Law and Order and in case of rioting, the two zonal IGs of Kashmir and Jammu would be reporting to him.
{{/usCountry}}In police set-up, K Rajendra, a 1984 batch IPS officer, was shifted from high profile post of Additional Director General of Police (CID) to ADG (Armed Police). He will also hold the post of ADG Law and Order and in case of rioting, the two zonal IGs of Kashmir and Jammu would be reporting to him.
{{/usCountry}}B Srinivas, a 1990-batch IPS officer, was made in charge of the CID. Srinivas is being succeeded by D R Doley as Inspector General of Police (Headquarters).
IG Kashmir moves as IG Security replacing Ram Lubhaiya, who has been attached to Police Headquarters. Lubhaiya along with Senior Superintendent of Police Rafiq-ul-Hasan were attached after a shoe was hurled by a suspended policeman at the Chief Minister during the Independence Day function.
The changes have been undertaken to give a fresh look to the administration and police which has been at the receiving end for last two months. The intelligence mechanism of the state had come under sharp criticism.
Among other changes, KB Aggarwal has been transferred and posted as Commissioner Secretary PWD, Basharat Ahmed Dhar as Power Commissioner, while Mehboob Iqbal has been asked to report to General Administration Department for further posting.
Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir range Naseema Lankar has been posted as Commissioner Secretary, School Education. She has been replaced by Asgar Samoon.