Arora applies for VRS, likely to get constitutional post

› After serving as DGP for three-and-a-half years, I am retiring with full satisfaction. I am sure the younger generation taking reins from me would serve Punjab better.

SURESH ARORA, outgoing DGP

CHANDIGARH: WWith the appointment of Dinkar Gupta as the new state police chief, outgoing director general of police (DGP) Suresh Arora, who is to retire in September this year after having been given extension, on Wednesday applied for ‘voluntary retirement’.

“As his extension is still left, he has sent retirement request to the Centre with an immediate effect,” an official said.

Appointed DGP during the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) government in 2015, Arora not only continued as state police chief when Amarinder Singh-led Congress formed government in March 2017 but managed to get extension for another year.

After his fresh extension created furore in political circles as it was given within two hours after the Supreme Court rejected the Punjab government’s plea to appoint DGP on its own and not by sending panel to UPSC, Arora conveyed to the CM not to continue in the top post.

It is because of the good rapport he enjoys with the chief minister that he is likely to be given a constitutional post by the government. As DGP, he was given a free hand by Amarinder who did not replace him despite huge pressure from a section of his party. Arora, who had replaced his batch-mate Sumedh Singh Saini as the top cop, is credited with handling law and order in better manner during his tenure.

Police busted 24 terror modules besides solving eight targeted killings and sacrilege cases. Also, sustained action against drugs and organised crime with busting of 51 gangs and focus on police welfare were key achievements during his tenure.

New DGP Punjab Dinkar Gupta said a sharp decline was recorded in heinous crimes and tracking important terrorrelated incidents like the targeted killings which rocked the state in 2015 and 2016 under Arora’s stewardship.

Upgrading the counter-terrorism capacity of state police by setting up special operations group (SOG), implementation of crime and criminal tracking systems and national emergency response system marked Arora’s tenure as DGP. “After serving as DGP for three-and-a-half years, I am retiring with full satisfaction. I have always tried to give my best to serve the state and I am sure the younger generation taking reins from me would serve Punjab better,” he said.