Social media users express ire against Basanth Rath's transfer

Social media users in Kashmir expressed their anger against the transfer of IGP Traffic Basant Kumar Rath and blamed Mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Junaid Mattu for government's decision to remove the highly popular IPS officer.

Rath, who is credited with streamlining the traffic system in Jammu and Kashmir in less than one year of being appointed as IGP Traffic, was shunted out Tuesday.

The government's decision came just four days after a Twitter spat between the IPS officer of 2000 batch and SMC mayor Junaid Mattu, leading to an outcry that he used his clout with the governor's administration to have him removed.

A Twitter user ran an online poll asking people to vote in favour of the person they support in this spat.

"They say, elected leader is more powerful than IAS/IPS. Let Kashmiris vote. Given a chance, who would they vote for?" Amit Tyagi, a frequent traveller to Kashmir, wrote in his post along with the poll.

Many users voted in favour of Rath.

Another user, naqeeyousuf1408, praised the IPS officer saying, "Maintaining law and order in J&K with respect to traffic problems a person single handedly overcame that , Now transferred #BasantRath #respect #we need officers like you."
One Mohsin Ahmed said, "Dear officer, Basant Rath @KangriCarrier, we salute you for being an honest and dedicated officer. Love you always and you'll always stay in our heart and our blessings are always with you.We are going to miss you sir."
Twitter user Shakeel Hamid said, "Cabbage unfolded his layers. #BasantRath #JunaidMattu."
Without naming the mayor, Rath had responded on Twitter, "Wetlands are precious and a vital part of our ecosystem. Only a cabbage will think otherwise."
In another apparently related tweet, the IPS officer said, "Land grabbers don't make good policy makers. With or without a Twitter account."
He invoked provisions of various laws and traffic rules to clear the pavements in Jammu and Srinagar cities, drawing protests from affected people but the general public was appreciative of his measures