Chandigarh, October 4
Amid fresh confrontation within the Congress over the Punjab DGP’s post, the state government today formally removed DGP Dinkar Gupta from the position and appointed him Chairman, Punjab Police Housing Corporation.
The transfer orders of Gupta also said officiating Punjab DGP Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota would continue on the post till a regular tenure police chief was appointed.
Step up vigil, Sahota tells cops
- To ensure peace in the border state, officiating DGP Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota chaired a high-level meeting at the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in SAS Nagar.
- The DGP, who was accompanied by ADGP Varinder Kumar, ADGP (Internal Security) RN Dhoke and ADGP (Counter-intelligence amp; OCCU) Amit Prasad reviewed security.
- The meeting took place at a time when the state has been witnessing recovery of grenades and bombs besides seizure of other arms and ammunition, signalling attempts by anti-national elements to disturb law and order. “The situation is absolutely peaceful and police are ready for any challenge,” he said.
- With the festive season around the corner, Sahota said there was a need to intensify vigil and directed all officers to stay alert.
Pradesh Congress Committee chief Navjot Singh Sidhu had on Sunday reiterated his demand for removal of Sahota from the DGP’s post.
Earlier, Sahota was made officiating DGP till Gupta was on leave. Sahota was posted last week after Gupta had gone on one-month leave when Charanjit Singh Channi took over as the new CM.
The transfer of Gupta also facilitates the appointment of the regular state police chief through the UPSC. The government has already sent a panel of nine officers to the UPSC for short-listing three names for the top post in the Police Department.
The government has also posted DGP MK Tiwari as Managing Director, Punjab Police Housing Corporation. — TNS
Punjab ex-DGP Dinkar Gupta police housing corp chief
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