Desecration situation fallout: Punjab DGP shunted out

In a sudden move, Punjab police chief Sumedh Singh Saini was today shunted out by the state government which is under intense attack over handling of the situation arising out of desecretion of Sikh holy book even protests over the issue were on the decline.
Suresh Arora, a 1982-batch IPS officer who was serving as Chief Director of Vigilance Bureau, was appointed as the new Director General of Police in place of Saini who was shifted as Director Housing Corporation, an official spokesman said.
Arora had played a crucial role in fighting terrorism and was posted as the SP (Headquarters), Amritsar, during Operation Black Thunder I, and as SSP Amritsar at the time of Operation Black Thunder II.

Saini was believed to be close to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Congress and most of the Sikh organisations were against his holding the post of the DGP.
The change at the top level in police was made amidst intense attack by opposition on the SAD-BJP government over its handling of the situation that developed after incidents of sacrilege in various parts of the state, during which two persons were killed when police opened fire.
Meanwhile, the 'Bhog' (culmination) of 'Akhand Path' (continuous recitation of religious hymns) of the two persons killed allegedly in police firing at Behbal Kalan in Faridkot district passed off peacefully today.

Protests by Sikh organisations, including hardliners, were also declining and getting limited to village roads. Majority of national highways and state highways saw normal movement of traffic, police said.

However, in yet another embarrassing development for the Badal government, Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) chairman and SAD's Amritsar district chief (urban) Upkar Singh Sandhu resigned from both posts yesterday.
Sandhu, close to the Badal family, cited the decision of the Five Takht Jathedars to exonerate Dera Sacha Sauda chief and the recent incidents of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib as reasons for his decision.
He held the state government "solely" responsible for the rising incidents of the desecration of 'birs' in the state.