Major rejig in police, 21 IPS officers shifted

In a major reshuffle in the Punjab Police, 21 senior IPS officers were transferred by the government.

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Among the officers transferred seven are Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs).

The transfers come days after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had asked district police chiefs to improve performance or face consequences. In a subsequent crackdown on corruption, DGP Gaurav Yadav dismissed 52 police personnel, ranging from constables to inspectors, on the charges of corruption.

In the reshuffle, AIG, Anti Gangster Task Force (AGTF), Gurmeet Chauhan has been posted as the Ferozepur SSP. Jyoti Yadav, wife of Education Minister Harjot Bains, has been appointed the Khanna SSP.

While Jyoti was earlier SP (Investigations) Mohali, Chauhan was last year unceremoniously transferred from Tarn Taran on the complaint of Tarn Taran AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal.

Swapan Sharma, Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar, has been posted as the DIG, Ferozepur range. Officials said five young officers of the 2018 and 2019 batch have been posted as the SSPs of various districts.

In a meeting with senior police officials following the February 8 Delhi poll results, CM Bhagwant Mann had highlighted concerns over “false” FIRs being filed in some districts. Sources indicated that several AAP MLAs had raised complaints about police misconduct leading to these FIRs.

The ruling AAP legislators have been expressing frustration with certain district police officials, accusing them of showing disrespect and disregarding petitioners sent by them.

The MLAs have made it clear that they want more influence over postings and have communicated this demand to Delhi leadership. The last major reshuffle, which involved the transfer of 14 SSPs, occurred in August 2024, following the Lok Sabha elections.