Punjab police chief Sumedh Singh Saini (in the picture) has been replaced by Suresh Arora.
Facing flak over law and order situation in the wake of protests over alleged desecration of the holy book 'Guru Granth Sahib', the Punjab government today transferred its police chief.
Sumedh Singh Saini has been replaced by Suresh Arora, who had played a key role in fighting terrorism in the state in late 80s. Mr Saini has been given charge as Chairman of Police Housing Corporation.
Suresh Arora, a 1982-batch IPS officer, was serving as the Director General of Police-cum-Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau. He had played a crucial role in fighting terrorism and was posted as the SP (Headquarters), Amritsar, during Operation Black Thunder I, and as SSP Amritsar at the time of Operation Black Thunder II.
Speaking to NDTV, Mr Arora said that his first priority would be to ensure transparent and just enquiry into firing incident at Faridkot to restore peace and law & order in the state. Mr Arora later met the Chief of Special investigation Team formed to enquire the firing incident.
Reacting to the development, Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Captain Amarinder Singh today said that the removal of Sumedh Singh Saini as the Director General of Police was long overdue and he should have been replaced long back. He said, while his removal was a welcome step, but people of Punjab will not be satisfied till the guilty in the Bargadi (Kotkapura) firing incident are not dismissed and charged with murder.
Earlier this month, Punjab was rocked by protests over the alleged desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib. The state police had come under attack after two persons were killed in firing at Behbal Kalan village in Faridkot while they were protesting. The police had to resort to tear gas shelling and charging batons to disperse an angry mob.
Both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party had demanded imposition of President's rule in Punjab contending that the state government had failed to tackle the law and order situation.