Uttar Pradesh IPS transfers: Shahjahanpur SP moved after freedom fighter statue demolition row

The Uttar Pradesh government transferred 27 IPS officers, including Shahjahanpur Superintendent of Police Rajesh Dwivedi, after a dispute over the demolition of freedom fighter statues during road work. Dwivedi was posted to PAC in Aligarh, while Saurabh Dixit replaced him. Several other police postings were also reshuffled.

The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday moved 27 IPS officers in a major reshuffle. The changes included Shahjahanpur Superintendent of Police Rajesh Dwivedi. The move followed a dispute over the demolition of freedom fighters’ statues during road work. The incident drew political protests and administrative action in Shahjahanpur.

Rajesh Dwivedi was posted as commandant of the 38th Battalion of PAC, Aligarh. Saurabh Dixit, the Firozabad superintendent of police, replaced Rajesh Dwivedi in Shahjahanpur. Chandra Prakash, inspector general of the Training Directorate, became the inspector general of security. Amroha SP Amit Kumar Anand shifted to Lucknow as deputy commissioner of police.

Uttar Pradesh IPS transfer linked to Shahjahanpur statue demolition row

Rajesh Dwivedi’s transfer came soon after a row over statues being pulled down during road work. A private company carried out the demolition in Shahjahanpur. The March 22 incident led to public anger across the city. It also brought scrutiny on officials responsible for overseeing the project.

Two officials faced action after the demolition, according to the government. A junior engineer and an assistant engineer were suspended. The engineers were allegedly on leave when the statues were demolished. The suspensions followed complaints about oversight during the night-time work. The matter remained under focus after the statues were restored.

Uttar Pradesh IPS transfer amid IAS reshuffle and Congress protest

Late on Sunday night, the state government also transferred nine IAS officers. The list included Bipin Kumar Mishra, the Shahjahanpur municipal commissioner. Saumya Gururani, who was awaiting posting, replaced Bipin Kumar Mishra. Bipin Kumar Mishra was appointed the additional managing director of Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation UPSRTC.

Earlier in the day, the Congress held a protest in Shahjahanpur over the transfers. The party demanded that Bipin Kumar Mishra’s transfer be cancelled. Congress also called for an impartial inquiry into the demolition. The protest came as the controversy continued to generate attention in the city.

Uttar Pradesh IPS transfer after statues reinstalled and firm booked

Statues of Ashfaqulla Khan, Roshan Lal, and Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil were demolished on the night of March 22. The statues stood near the municipal corporation office at the city’s Town Hall. They were reinstalled at the site on March 26 at the chief minister’s order. The company was blacklisted and booked for the demolition.

The three freedom fighters are linked to the Kakori case, officials noted. Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan and Roshan Singh were hanged by the British on December 19, 1927. The hangings followed a train robbery involving government cash in August 1925. The robbery took place in the Kakori area of Lucknow.

With inputs from PTI