Punjab govt shifts Vigilance Bureau Director

Chandigarh, Mar 8 (UNI) In the first major reshuffle of the top police brass in the state, the Punjab government today shifted the Vigilance Bureau Director and ten other police officers.

Three range IGPs and a similar number of range DIGs were also shifted.

According to an official release, Vigilance Bureau Director Izhar Alam was posted as DGP Prisons in place of A P Pandey, whose posting orders have not been issued.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, after assuming charge on March two, had hinted that vigilance officials who had taken part in the 'witch hunt' against political opponents of former CM Capt Amarinder Singh would be shifted out of the Bureau. Mr Alam was sent to the top vigilance post by the previous Congress government.

Another Vigilance Bureau official who has been shifted is C S R Reddy, an IGP ranking official. Mr S S Saini will now be the IGP-cum-Director of the Bureau. Mr Reddy's posting orders too have not been issued.

Mr Shashi Kant is the new ADGP intelligence in place of Mr J P Birdi who goes as ADGP railways. Mr Anil Kaushik will take over as ADGP Security in place of Mr Shashi Kant.

Mr Sanjeev Kalra is the new IGP of Jalandhar Range while Mr M K Tiwari will take over as IGP Patiala Range. Mr V K Bhawra the Faridkot Range IGP has been made IGP intelligence in place of Mr R P Singh. The government is yet to decid on the new IGP Faridkot Range.

Mr Narinderpal Singh has been appointed DIG Jalandhar Range while Mr Jatinder Kumar Jain will be the new DIG Faridkot Range.

Mr Paramjit Singh Gill has been shifted from the state headquarters as DIG Patiala Range.

The posting orders of a few other police officers who were shifted have not yet been issued.

UNI