Gujarat government transfers three top police officers from Rajkot without posting

All of the outgoing officers from Rajkot have been replaced by those who are junior to them in the Indian Police Service. Bharagava, the outgoing commissioner is from the 1995 batch while his replacement Jha is from the 1999 batch. Additional commissioner Choudhary is from the 2009 batch while Bhagria is from the 2010 batch. Desai is from the 2012 batch while Bangarwa is from the 2019 batch.

The notification also indicates that the government has received the permission from the election commission and the ascent from the governor of the state for these transfers.

Earlier today, the government ordered the suspension of seven officials in connection with the Rajkot game zone fire.

The officials have been held responsible for their ”gross negligence in allowing the game zone to operate without necessary approvals,” a government release stated. Earlier in the day, Rajkot Municipal Corporation’s town planning department assistant engineer Jaideep Chaudhary, assistant town planner for RMC Gautam Joshi, Rajkot Roads and Buildings department’s deputy executive engineers MR Suma and Paras Kothiya, and police inspectors VR Patel and NI Rathod, were suspended, as per orders passed by the respective departments.

The Gujarat High Court on Sunday took suo motu cognisance of the fire tragedy, terming it a prima facie ”man-made disaster”.The HC noted that a stock of highly inflammable materials such as petrol, fibres and fibreglass sheets were stored at the facility.The state government has formed a special investigation team and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each deceased.The Central government has also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased person.