Dera row: Bhatinda SSP transferred

The Senior Superintendent of Police of Bhatinda, which witnessed trouble during the current standoff between followers of Dera Sacha Sauda sect and various Sikh organisations, was on Saturday transferred by the Punjab government.

Naresh Kumar, SSP, Bhatinda has been transferred as Assistant Inspector General of Police (Community Policing and NRI Affairs), Chandigarh.

An official release in Chandigarh said three IPS officers, including Kumar, were transferred on "administrative grounds".

Official sources said Kumar has been transferred following differences with the Deputy Commissioner and SAD leaders on the handling of the situation in Bhatinda earlier this week when the Sikhs and Dera followers resorted to violence.

District President of the ruling SAD Sikander Singh Malooka told PTI in Bhatinda that the party had given a representation to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday seeking removal of the SSP for his "failure" to handle the situation properly.

Naunihal Singh, Additional Inspector General, Personnel, Chandigarh has been posted as SSP of Bhatinda in place of Naresh Kumar.

Kapil Dev, AIG (Community Policing and NRI Affairs), has been posted as AIG, Personnel, Chandigarh, the release said.