In the midst of controversy over rape and murder of two women in Shopian,the Jammu and Kashmir government transferred over 50 officials on Tuesday,including Director General (CID) Ashok Bhan,who has been shifted as DG (Prisons). The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah where it was also decided to shift Inspector General (Kashmir) B Srinivas as IG (Security). Bhan,a 1976 batch IPS officer,was the DG (CID) when the Shopian incident took place. A government spokesperson,however,described the transfers as a routine exercise. 45-year-old Srinivas,a 1990 batch IPS officer,had taken over as IG (Kashmir) at a difficult time on September 1,last year when the entire valley was in turmoil over the Amarnath land row issue. After successfully handling the situation,Srinivas was part of the efforts to ensure peaceful holding of Assembly as well as Lok Sabha elections in the state. Srinivas will be succeeded by Farooq Ahmed,a 1995 batch IPS officer. He is heading Special Investigation Team probing the Shopian case. IG (Jammu) K Rajendra,a 1984 batch IPS officer,has been promoted and posted as Additional Director General (CID). He will be replaced by Ashok Gupta,a 1987 batch IPS officer. The state police has been on receiving end after bodies of two women were found in Shopian on May 30.
