Chandigarh: Punjab government today removed Sumedh Saini as Punjab police chief. He was replaced by Suresh Arora as Director-General of Police, Punjab. According to The Tribune, the move has reportedly come at the intervention of the Indian Home Minister, who had last week spoken to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal about the developments in Punjab in the wake of incidents of beadbi of Guru Granth Sahib.
“Saini has been transferred,” Punjab Home Secretary Jagpal Sandhu said, adding that he was given the new charge as Chairman of the Police Housing Corporation.
Under intense pressure to solve the incidents of desecration, especially the one at Baragri village in Faridkot, the Punjab Police had claimed to have found evidence to suggest an ‘international conspiracy’ behind the sacrilege.
The police had also arrested two Sikh brothers, Rupinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh of Panjgarayin village in Fardikot, alleging their involvement in the Bargari incident. The police claimed they had phone transcripts to support the claim that duo received money from Dubai and Australia.
The police theory, however, came under attack from several quarters, especially Sikh leaders and residents of Panjgarayin village.
Moreover, callers from Dubai and Australia came forward to clarify that the money was sent for treatment of injured Rupinder Singh.
The state police have also been attacked for not being able to solve the case when a Saroop of Guru Granth Sahib was first stolen in June. Subsequently, during the protests against beadbi the police opened fire at protesters at Behbal Kalan village in Faridkot district, which left two Sikhs dead and many others injured. Saini’s removal is considered to be part of damage control attempts by SAD (Badal) government.