EC enforces its order on Bangalore police commissioner

Bangalore, April 5: After resisting for days under pressure from senior officials, the

government today finally issued orders for the transfer of Bangalore City Police Commissioner B G Jyothiprakash Mirji.

Raghavendra Auradkar, a 1987 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, replaced Mirji, who belongs to the 1973 batch of IPS, an official statement said.

Mirji's transfer was "as per the direction of the Election Commission of India for smooth conduct of elections in a free and fair manner", the statement said.

The official statement hides more than what it says. As the state is under Model code of conduct, the administration is bound by certain directions of the Election Commission. However, the government tried all tricks to keep at bay the EC order to appoint Auradkar as the new police commissioner.

Under pressure from some senior officials, the government even sent an alternative list of names to the EC, but it is learnt that the EC would have none of it and insisted on the appointment of Auradkar.

Auradkar, who was home secretary (crime and prisons), took charge from Mirji soon after the government issued the order. Soon after taking charge, Auradkar sought cooperation of all including political parties for "free, fair and smooth" conduct of the polls. "Upholding the rule of law will be the main priority," he said.

Voting for 224 seats of the 225-member assembly is scheduled for May 5. Bangalore sends 28 representatives to the assembly.

OneIndia News