Amritsar Police Chief Shunted After Jantar Mantar Row; BJP Questions Timing

The Punjab government has removed Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Bhullar from his post, a move that has sparked a political slugfest after his remarks on the Jantar Mantar protest. The transfer comes amid a heated row over allegations linking the Delhi protest site to Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI.

Bhullar's removal was confirmed late Thursday, though no official reason was cited. The development has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which claims the action reeks of political vendetta and is timed to shield certain elements from scrutiny.

BJP cries foul

The BJP has questioned why the transfer happened now, arguing that Bhullar was merely doing his job by highlighting potential security threats. Party leaders have alleged that the move is aimed at pressuring the police to go soft on outfits linked to the protest.

"This is a clear case of punishing an officer for speaking the truth," a senior BJP functionary said, requesting anonymity. "The timing raises serious questions about the state government's intentions."

Bhullar, a senior IPS officer known for his no-nonsense approach, had earlier made remarks that were interpreted as linking the Jantar Mantar protest to broader security concerns. His statements were widely reported, and the controversy has refused to die down since.

Punjab Police deny ISI link

Amid the political firestorm, the Punjab Police have issued a categorical denial that the Jantar Mantar protest has any connection to the ISI-backed terror modules recently busted in Amritsar. The clarification came after social media posts, allegedly from BJP-affiliated handles, sought to draw a link between the two.

In a statement, the Amritsar Police said it would initiate legal action against those circulating such claims. "There is no evidence to suggest any nexus between the protest and the terror modules," a police spokesperson said, adding that the force would not allow its name to be dragged into baseless allegations.

Terror modules busted in Amritsar

The backdrop to this controversy is the recent crackdown on two ISI-backed terror modules in Amritsar. Nine people have been arrested so far, with a cache of arms and petrol bombs recovered from their possession. The police have described the modules as "active threats" that were planning attacks in the region.

Investigations are ongoing, and officials have not ruled out more arrests. The state government has maintained that the operations were carried out purely on intelligence inputs and had nothing to do with the Jantar Mantar protest.

The timing of Bhullar's transfer, however, has muddied the waters. While the state government has remained tight-lipped, sources suggest the decision was taken at the highest level, possibly to defuse tensions. But the BJP has pounced on the opportunity, demanding a thorough probe into the circumstances leading to his removal.

What next?

With the political heat rising, all eyes are on the state government to clarify its stance. Bhullar's next posting is yet to be announced, and it remains to be seen whether he will be given a significant role or sidelined.

The controversy also threatens to overshadow the police's success in busting the terror modules. As the investigation progresses, the focus will likely shift to how the state handles the political fallout and whether it can keep the narrative focused on security rather than politics.