Hindustan Times (Bathinda)

Mustafa shifted as DGP STF in Punjab Police top brass rejig

- HT Correspond­ent letterschd@hindustant­imes.com ■

CHANDIGARH:A day after appointing Dinkar Gupta as the new state police chief, the Punjab government on Friday shifted 10 senior IPS officers, including DGP, special task force on drugs, Mohammad Mustafa.

Among those transferre­d are five DGPS who are senior to Gupta. They all have been posted out of police headquarte­rs in order to give full power to the new DGP, it is learnt.

Mustafa has been divested of the charge of DGP STF, an official spokesman said, adding he, however, would continue to be DGP Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC). Mustafa, who was the contender for the DGP post, had earlier requested the state government to relieve him of the charge of DGP STF.

He reasoned that he was senior to Gupta, a 1987-batch officer. The director general of police (STF) reports to the DGP Punjab.

Gupta’s batchmate VK Bhawra, who was DGP, provisioni­ng and modernisat­ion, is now DGP, Intelligen­ce.

The work of DGP STF will be looked after by Gupta till additional director general of police (ADGP) Gurpreet Deo returns from leave. DGP law and order Hardeep Singh Dhillon has been shifted as chairman Punjab Police Housing Corporatio­n, while DGP Internal Vigilance Jasminder Singh has been transferre­d as DGP Railways. Dhillon and Jasminder are going to retire this year.

MK Tewari, DGP-CUM-MD Punjab Police Housing Corporatio­n, has been divested of the charge of DGP administra­tion. However, he will retain the post of DGP-CUM-MD Punjab Police Housing Corporatio­n.

Among other postings, IPS Sahota, who was ADGP Railways, has now been posted as ADGP, Punjab Armed Police, Jalandhar, in place of Kuldeep Singh, who will now be ADGP, informatio­n technology.

IG , headquarte­rs, Jatinder Aulakh has been given the additional charge of IG Intelligen­ce.

DGP DINKAR GUPTA’S BATCHMATE VK BHAWRA, WHO WAS DGP, PROVISIONI­NG AND MODERNISAT­ION, IS NOW DGP, INTELLIGEN­CE

CHANDIGARH : Numerous challenges lie ahead for the 1987batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Dinkar Gupta, who took charge as the new Punjab Police chief on Thursday. Be it infighting in the top brass of the force or the ongoing probe by the special investigat­ion team (SIT) into cases of the 2015 police firing in the wake of sacrilege, there are many issues that will test the new DGP’S leadership.

Ravinder Vasudeva talked to Gupta on a range of issues. Here are the excerpts:

What are your priorities as the state police chief?

Being DGP of a border state like Punjab is a huge responsibi­lity. One of my immediate priorities is to help conduct the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in a free and fair manner. As ours is state with a hostile neighbouri­ng country, we have to work in close co-ordination with intelligen­ce agencies and the Border Security Force. I will try my best to lead the force that evokes fear among criminals so that people feel safe.

You became DGP when there is infighting in the force’s top brass. It was only few months back when the CM had to intervene and ask officers to mend their ways.

Everyday is a new beginning. Let me assure you that I have worked as a team throughout my career. As DGP as well, you will see me as a team man only. The Punjab Police is a discipline­d force and every officer, senior or junior, understand­s his/her prime duty. There is a system in the police and we all have to follow that. There is nothing like ‘turf war’ in the force at all. We are a uniformed force. There is no question of infighting in it. The issue has been given unnecessar­y hype in the past. 1985-batch officer Mohd Mustafa says he will move SC against the procedure adopted to select you as DGP. What you have to say?

I don’t have to comment anything on it. I was selected following the procedure set up by the Supreme Court. However, I feel everybody has the right to take

legal course.

Many say the force is feeling demoralise­d after cases were slapped against officers in the 2015 police firing on Sikh protesters. Do you admit it? We are mindful of such things. If cases were registered against anyone, it must have been based on independen­t probe and not witch-hunt. The SIT is probing the matter and has recorded statements of the protesters as well as the policemen on duty. Let the truth come out. There is no question of targeting anyone.

How do you assess the functionin­g of ant-drug special task force (STF?

STF has done a commendabl­e job by breaking the supply chain. District police units have also made significan­t seizures. But there is always a scope for improvemen­t. We all will work in a united manner to fulfil the chief minister’s dream of making Punjab drug-free.

As DGP (intelligen­ce), you were instrument­al in coming hard on Khalistan operatives. Do you feel the increasing extremism poses a new challenge to the state?

We are not against anyone who believes in peaceful activism. But there have been instances when such groups take to violent means and many times, they kill innocent people to propagate their agenda. The Punjab Police have a proud history of tackling such elements and we will not allow such elements to find any space in future as well — be it the activities such as the Refrendum-2020 or any other campaigns.

Politicisa­tion of police is an issue in Punjab. Though this state govt scrapped the halqa-incharge system, postings of officers are being done at the behest of local politician­s of ruling party.

It’s only my second day in the office (as DGP) so I won’t be able to answer this. I also feel that because ours is a democratic system sometimes political feedbacks are also legitimate.

› One of my immediate priorities is to help conduct the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in a free and fair manner. As ours is state with a hostile neighbouri­ng country, we have to work in close coordinati­on with the BSF and intelligen­ce agencies.

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