Haridwar SSP transferred under pressure from mining mafia: BJP

Dehradun, Oct 8: Ascribing ulterior motives to the recent transfer of Haridwar SSP Sadanand Date, main Opposition BJP today accused the state government of removing the official "hurriedly under pressure from the mining mafia" which was rattled by the steps being taken by him to rein in their activities.

"Date was an efficient official who had launched a crackdown on illegal mining activities being carried out in ecologically sensitive zones around the Ganga in Haridwar district. His transfer shows that the state government has acted under the pressure of the mining mafia," Leader of Opposition Ajay Bhatt said.

He said the transfer of Haridwar SSP just after seven months in office was in violation of the norms as the Uttarakhand Police Act says under normal circumstances, no official can be transferred from a place without completing two years in office.

Bhatt said Date's removal vindicates the party's stand that the Congress government in Uttarakhand is playing into the hands of mining, liquor, and land mafia. Alleging that the politician-mining mafia nexus in the state was the root cause of the official's sudden transfer, Haridwar based institution Matri Sadan's chief Swami Shivanand questioned the justification of hurriedly removing Date just after seven months as SSP.

"He was doing a commendable job as SSP and had taken a slew of effective steps to crack down on the mining mafia engaged in illegal mining activities in the district. His sudden transfer after just seven months of taking over as SSP shows that the decision has been taken under pressure of the mafia," he said.

Swami Shivanand enjoys the reputation of being an anti-mining crusader having observed indefinite fasts against illegal mining activities on several occasions in the past.

Demanding that the transfer order be withdrawn before October 12, the Swami said if the deadline for the reinstatement to the post is not met, he will move the court against the state government's decision.

However, government officials said it was a routine transfer effected due to exigencies of work. Date was among 11 IPS officials transferred in the state on October 2.

He has now been posted at the state police headquarters here as Assistant Inspector General of Police.

IANS