Chandigarh: Punjab government has decided to abolish the old system of post four zones and IG rank officers will be given the charge to head the seven ranges.

Chandigarh: Punjab government has decided to abolish the old system of post four zones and IG rank officers will be given the charge to head the seven ranges.

Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh said the government has decided to pull out officers of the rank of deputy inspector general (DIG) from the field. “All seven ranges will now be headed by IG-rank officers,” he said in an interaction with reporters. The seven ranges – Patiala, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Border and Rupnagar – were headed by DIGs hitherto.

The move is being seen as an attempt to “rationalise” the police structure and give the charge of ranges to more experienced officers. Haryana and Rajasthan also have a similar administrative structure.

Besides, the Punjab government transferred six SSPs and four ADGP promoted as DGPs. The new DGPs are Dinkar Gupta of intelligence wing; CSR Reddy, managing director of Punjab Police Housing Corporation; VK Bhawra from provisioning and modernisation; and MK Tiwari.

 In the shuffling of SSPs, J Elenchezian has been shifted from Amritsar (rural) to Hoshiarpur as Congress leaders wanted him out of the Majha region. The Indian Police Service (IPS) officer was purportedly not allowed to rejoin after his 10-day leave had ended, and has now been replaced, formally, by Parampal Singh Gandhi.

Among other SSPs, Harcharan Singh Bhullar has been shifted out of Hoshiarpur and will now be AIG (crime) in the Bureau of Investigation at Chandigarh. Opinderjit Singh Ghuman will be new SSP of Batala in place of Deepak Hilori, who has been posted in the intelligence wing.

Darshan Singh Maan has been made Tarn Taran SSP, replacing Harjeet Singh, who will now hold the post in Barnala. Harjeet will replace Baljot Singh Rathore, who will now be DIG, Government Railway Police, Patiala.

Jagadale Nilambari will leave the post of SSP at Rupnagar and now be commandant-cum-deputy director at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Police Academy at Phillaur.

Raj Bachan Singh Sandhu, who was posted as aide-de-camp (ADC) to the governor, will replace her at Rupnagar.

Also, ADGP Harpreet Singh Sidhu — chief of a special task force (STF) formed by chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh to fight the drug menace — has been given more powers. Inspectors general of police (IGPs) of border zones Amritsar and Bathinda will report to Sidhu now. Sources said the CM took this decision as these ranges are among the worst-hit in terms of drug supply from across the border with Pakistan, and direct reports from the ground staff to Sidhu can possibly lead to more results.

Sidhu, as ADGP (border), will report to the state DGP. As ADGP (STF), he will report to the chief minister’s office, a spokesman said.