J&K DGP Vaid shifted, posted as Transport Commissioner

Srinagar: Director General of Police (DGP) S P Vaid has been shifted and posted as Transport Commissioner with headquarters at winter capital, Jammu.

Director General of Prison Dilabagh Singh, a 1987 batch IAS officer, shall hold the additional charge of the post of DGP till a regular arrangement is made, an order issued by the Home Department late Thursday night said.

The order said that Dr Vaid has been transferred and his services were placed at the disposal of the General Administrative Department (GDA). The GDA later posted Dr Vaid as transport commissioner with headquarters at Jammu, the order said.

Dr Vaid, an IPS officer of 1986 batch, was appointed as the DGP by the previous Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)  coalition government. However, the state is under Governor rule since June 20 after BJP pulled out from the government and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti resigned.

Mr Singh, DG Prison shall hold the charge of the post of DGP in addition to his own duties till a regular arrangement is made, the order issued late last night said.The DGA later posted  Dr Vaid as transport commissioner with headquarters at Jammu. The post of transport commissioner has been declared equivalent to the status and responsibility of the post of DGP, it said.

Dr Vaid had on September 5 urged media to avoid articles that undermines the morale of police which has been fighting a proxy war for decades.Taking to micro-blogging site Dr Vaid said, ''JK Police has been fighting a proxy war for decades which requires a lot of courage & determination of the men & officers of JKP. Speculative articles which undermine their morale should be avoided. @ndtv as regards to transfer, it's routine matter & prerogative of the govt.''

 DGP was responding to TV news channel reports that the Union Home Ministry was not "satisfied" with the state police and looking for a replacement for Dr Vaid.

 However, the Home Ministry also put the speculations to rest, saying it has commended the work done by the Jammu and Kashmir Police on more than one occasion.

Sources said that Dr Vaid was shifted following kidnapping of family members of over six police personnel in south Kashmir recently. About 24 police personnel were killed by militants in the valley this year so far. (UNI)