After spate of controversies, Rath removed as IGP, Traffic

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 13

The state administration, headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik, on Tuesday removed controversial Inspector General of Police (IGP), Traffic, Basant Rath, who was known for his unorthodox style of working. He was replaced by IGP, Security, Alok Kumar.

According to an order issued by the state home department, “Alok Kumar, IGP, Security, J&K, is transferred and posted as IGP, Traffic, J&K, vice Basant Kumar Rath. Rath, IGP, Traffic, J&K, is transferred and attached with the office of the Commandant General, Home Guards/Civil efence/SDRF, till further orders.”

Since Monday evening, the social media was abuzz with rumours of Rath’s transfer. He hogged the headlines last week when he hit out at newly elected Srinagar Mayor Junaid Mattu on Twitter, telling him traffic management was not his domain.

On November 8, Rath had embroiled into another controversy when he asked the Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli “to keep his cricket patriotism to himself”.

“Dear Virat Kohli, I love Javed Miandad. You please keep your cricket patriotism to yourself. And to your advertisement contracts,” Rath wrote on Twitter while responding to a recent controversy over Kohli’s “leave India” remarks to a cricket enthusiast.

In the last week of October, mediapersons of Jammu had staged protests against Rath after he slapped a video journalist and snatched his phone.

After his posting in the traffic department, Rath was also warned “against violation of service conduct rules, operating without uniform, hurling abuses and manhandling commuters” by the police department.