PUNJAB APPOINTS NEW DGP AMID PMs SECURITY BREACH ROW
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| VIRESH KUMAR BHAWRA |
Chandigarh: Hours before the model code of conduct for assembly elections came into force on Saturday, the charanjit Singh channi led Punjab government appointed 1987-batch IPS officer viresh Kumar Bhawra as the state's director general of police (DGP).
BHAWRA will replace 1986 batch IPS officer chattopadhyay, who landed in a controversy over a security breach during prime minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ferozpur on January 5. On Friday, chattopadhyay, along with 13 other officer, was issued a show cause notice by the home ministry for the "major security lapse".
An official familiar with the matter said chattopadhyay was replaced as his name was not included by the union public Service commission (UPSC) in the list of three officers sent to the state government earlier this week and and in view of the row over the security lapse.
Besides Bhawra, who was previously the (DGP) of Punjab home guards, the other two officers were Dinkar Gupta and prebodh Kumar. "On the consideration of the panel received from the UPSC, the Punjab governor is pleased to appoint viresh Kumar Bhawra, IPS as director general of police, Punjab (Head of police force)," a state government order said. "His term shall be for a minimum period of two years from the date of assumption of office in pursuance of the supreme court order's," it added.
According to the SC guidelines, out of three shortlisted offers by the UPSC, the state government finalise the name of one officer appointment of a DGP
Immediately after his appointment on Saturday, Bhawra transferred 47 deputy superintendent of police.
