Bihar transfers police officers

PATNA - Bihar Wednesday transferred Lakhisarai Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Singh and Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramadhar Singh for irregularity and negligence during a gunfight with Maoists in which seven policemen were killed and four were taken hostage by rebels.

“Singh was transferred in view of the growing anger against him among policemen in the district and reports of negligence during duty while handling the gunbattle with the Maoists,” an official said.

It was earlier reported that Singh was suspended but later official sources in the government confirmed that he was transferred. “Singh was not suspended, he was shifted as commandant of Bihar Military Police in Patna,” officials said.

The Bihar Policemen’s Association had demanded his suspension or transfer after the killing of seven policemen and abduction of four officers by guerrillas Sunday.

Angry association leaders assaulted Singh Monday for his negligence in sending reinforcement during the gunbattle.

However, the state government has intensified anti-Maoist operations and searches for the four abducted policemen, even as Maoists extended their deadline till Thursday morning to release their eight jailed cadres failing which they would kill all the hostages.

“The state government has not officially received any ultimatum from the Maoists. Only the media has reported about the ultimatum… and it may or may not be true,” said Director General of Police Neelmani.

Operations have been launched by combined forces of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Special Task Force of Bihar police in the hilly terrain of Lakhisarai and its adjoining Jamui and Munger districts to rescue the policemen held hostage.