Reshuffle in Police Department on the cards

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first reshuffle in the state police force after the UDF Government came to power is on the cards. The discussions regarding the shifting of some of the top cops have begun and the Chief Minister is expected to take a decision in this regard within a week.  According to top sources, though the Director General of Police will not be changed, a change of the State Intelligence chief is being speculated. Intense lobbying is on to shift the present Intelligence chief as another top cop, who is in the good books of the Congress, is pitching in for this much-coveted post. This police officer, who was sidelined by the previous LDF Government, is now striving hard to make a comeback with his influence among the Congress leaders. Similarly, there is also a proposal to shift some of the range IGs as a few police officers, who were sidelined by the previous government, have evinced keen interest in returning to the law and order stream. However, there will be no change in the present City Police Commissioners. The Police Commissioners were shifted by the Election Commission ahead of the Assembly elections. Sources said that the first reshuffle would be confined to the top brass and a second similar exercise can be expected soon after the Assembly session. It is learnt that the state Congress leadership has received a number of requests from the district leaders regarding the posting of police officers of their choice in each district.  The Chief Minister is also under pressure from the UDF constituents as they want some officers of their choice to be posted in several key positions, including some range IGs.  The shifting of police officers will be a daunting task as the Chief Minister will have to satisfy several interests, from the party, UDF constituents and, most interestingly, from a few community leaders as well.