Two days after announcement of ceasefire between India and Pakistan, Rajasthan government removed police chiefs of two districts – Jhunjhunu and Hanumangarh, which shares border with Pakistan.
Arshad Ali, SP of Hanumangarh and Sharad Chowdhary Jhunjhunu SP, have been sent on Awaiting Posting Order (APO).
This is second time that Sharad Chowdhary has peen put on APO. in February 2020, Chowdhary was sent on APO over custodial death of a dalit when he was SP Barmer.
Both Ali and Chowdhary are 2011 batch IPS officers, promoted from state police service. They had been promoted to DIG earlier this year but were asked to serve as district SP like 8 other officers who continue to serve as district SPs despite being promoted.
These officers are Anand Sharma, Gaurav Yadav, Bhuvan Bhushan Yadav, Prahlad Krishania, Rajan Dushyant, Shankar Dutt Sharma, Ram Murthi Joshi and Alok Srivastava.
Why Ali and Chowdhary put on APO?
The timing is raising several questions on their being sent on APO. Though no official word has come out on the sudden removal, rumour mills are working overtime. Soldier Surendra Kumar, who was martyred in the Pakistani attack on Udhampur base, was from Jhunjhunu.
While some are suspecting lapses found during red alert to be the reason for their removal, there are many who are raising question on their integrity and honesty.
“There have been allegations against them for long time. The state government has taken action on basis of those complaints,” said a police officer.
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