The Bihar government, on Tuesday, carried out a major reshuffle in the police department, transferring 17 senior IPS officers, including the police chiefs of Siwan and Bhojpur, where recent police actions had sparked controversies.
Among the officers transferred is Siwan Superintendent of Police Pooran Kumar Jha, under whose command an AK-47 rifle was allegedly used by a policeman during a student protest against irregularities in the conduct of NEET exams, on July 25.
According to a circular issued by the state Home Department, Jha has been placed on the waiting list for a new posting. Bharat Soni has now been appointed as the SP of Siwan.
Siwan had hit headlines following the July 25 student protest after a video emerged showing police constable Abhishek Kumar using an AK-47 rifle during a protest march. Kumar was later suspended and departmental proceedings were initiated against him.
The government had, however, defended the constable's actions, saying he fired rounds only after being "trapped and surrounded by protesters".
The incident triggered a political controversy, with the Opposition demanding that responsibility be fixed beyond the constable involved.
Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav, on Tuesday, said suspending the constable alone was not sufficient and demanded that the role of senior officials also be examined.
"The constable has been suspended, but that is not enough. On whose orders was he able to carry an AK-47 rifle must be known, and those higher officials too must also be taken to task," Yadav had said.
The reshuffle also comes just a day before a protest planned by the RJD over the issue.
RJD supremo Lalu Prasad has called for a march to the Lok Bhavan against what he described as the "dictatorial attitude" of the state government, accusing it of responding to "democratic demands with bullets from an AK-47".
The government has also transferred Bhojpur SP Raj. Police action in the district had come under scrutiny following the encounter of local activist Bharat Tiwari, which triggered an outcry.
Awadesh Dikshit has been appointed as the new SP of Bhojpur, while Hriday Kant has been appointed as the SP of Nalanda.
