Major shake-up in J&K police, bureaucracy

A major shake-up of police and bureaucracy was carried out today in Jammu and Kashmir which saw a new home secretary, a new intelligence chief and a new post of additional director general (law and order).

The reshuffle was cleared by the state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

The new postings and transfers also saw entry of a 1987-batch IPS officer S M Sahai back as inspector general (Kashmir), a post from which he was removed in 2008 after he allegedly failed to control a mob during the Amarnath land transfer agitation.

Sahai, who was not empanelled as inspector general of police at the Centre, replaces Farooq Ahmed who takes over as IG (Security).

In the bureaucracy, Home Secretary Samuel Verghese was shifted and posted as chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Special Tribunal. He was replaced by B R Sharma, who earlier held the post of power secretary.

Among others, principal secretary to chief minister, Khurshid A Ganai, has been transferred and posted as principal secretary, Planning and Development Department. He was replaced by Bharat Bhushan Vyas.

In the police set-up, K Rajendra, a 1984-batch IPS officer, was shifted from the high-profile post of additional director general (ADG) of police (CID) to ADG (armed police). He will also hold the post of ADG (law and order) and in case of rioting, the two zonal IGs of Kashmir and Jammu would be reporting to him.

B Srinivas, a 1990-batch IPS officer, was made in charge of the CID. Srinivas is being succeeded by D R Doley as Inspector General of Police (headquarters).

IG Kashmir moves as IG Security replacing Ram Lubhaiya, who has been attached to police headquarters. Lubhaiya as well as senior superintendent of police, Rafiq-ul-Hasan, were attached after a shoe was hurled by a suspended policeman at the chief minister during the Independence Day function.

The changes have been undertaken to give a fresh look to the administration and police which has been at the receiving end for the last two months.

Among other changes, K B Aggarwal has been transferred and posted as commissioner secretary, PWD, Basharat Ahmed Dhar as power commissioner, while Mehboob Iqbal has been asked to report to the general administration department for further posting.

Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir range, Naseema Lankar, has been posted as commissioner secretary of school education. She has been replaced by Asgar Samoon.

J&K Bank chairman asked to resign

Jammu and Kashmir Bank Chairman Haseeb Drabu had been asked to resign, highly placed sources said on Thursday night.

However, Drabu declined to comment when asked about the development. “I don't know as of now,” he said.

A professional economist, Drabu became the bank’s chairman on June 9, 2005, and his term was due to end in mid-2011.

The development came on a day when the Omar Abdullah government effected a major shake-up of police and bureaucracy in Jammu and Kashmir.