Patna, Aug 18: The Bihar government on Tuesday transferred 17 senior IPS officers in a major reshuffle, moving the Superintendent of Police of Siwan, Pooran Kumar Jha, to the waiting list amid controversy over the alleged use of an AK-47 during a student protest in the district last month.
According to a circular issued by the Bihar Home Department, Jha has been transferred and placed on the waiting list for a new posting.
Jha was the Siwan SP when an AK-47 was allegedly used during a student protest on July 25, triggering political criticism and demands for accountability over police action.
The reshuffle comes at a time when the state government is facing heightened scrutiny over police handling of student protests and the Siwan incident in particular.
Bharat Soni has been appointed as the new SP of Siwan, according to the government order.
The government has also transferred Bhojpur SP Raj, whose tenure came under scrutiny following an encounter involving local activist Bharat Tiwari that had triggered an outcry.
Awadesh Dikshit has been appointed as the new SP of Bhojpur, while Hriday Kant has been made the SP of Nalanda.
The transfers come a day before the proposed Mahagathbandhan march to Lok Bhavan over the Siwan firing controversy. Opposition leaders, including RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav, have demanded accountability of senior police officials in connection with the incident.
The government reshuffle is therefore likely to attract further political attention, particularly with Jha being placed on the waiting list rather than being immediately assigned another posting.
The Home Department’s order, however, does not specify the reasons for each individual transfer beyond announcing the administrative reshuffle.
