With controversy around suspension of the sub-divisional magistrate of Greater Noida, Durga Shakti Nagpal, subsiding, Uttar Pradesh government has used the opportunity to transfer her immediate superior Kumar Ravikant Singh, District Magistrate, Gautam Budh Nagar. In an order issued on Wednesday, Singh has been put on the waiting list and will have to cool heels at the state secretariat in Lucknow.
While the government has not given any reason for transfer, it has come soon after a demolition drive at sector 115 in Noida on Tuesday which turned violent. In the demolition drive, villagers set ablaze a police vehicle and pelted stones at police party.
Singh, a 2008 batch IAS officer, had given clean chit to Nagpal in the case of demolition of a wall of an under construction mosque being built illegally in Greater Noida. The report caused much embarrassment to the state government. The demolition was used as alibi by the state government to transfer Nagpal after she had cracked down on the sand mining mafia.
In his enquiry report sent to government on demolition of the wall which was being built illegally, Singh had said the villagers themselves demolished the wall and no JCB machines were deployed. He also mentioned that there was no apparent threat of any breach of law and order in the area. However, the report of local intelligence unit (LIU) of the state police stated Nagpal’s action were a threat to peace.
With the transfer of the district magistrate, the state government has completely dismantled the team which had acted against illegal sand mining in the flood plains of Yamuna and Hindon rivers in Noida and Greater Noida area.
While the government has not given any reason for transfer, it has come soon after a demolition drive at sector 115 in Noida on Tuesday which turned violent. In the demolition drive, villagers set ablaze a police vehicle and pelted stones at police party.
Singh, a 2008 batch IAS officer, had given clean chit to Nagpal in the case of demolition of a wall of an under construction mosque being built illegally in Greater Noida. The report caused much embarrassment to the state government. The demolition was used as alibi by the state government to transfer Nagpal after she had cracked down on the sand mining mafia.
In his enquiry report sent to government on demolition of the wall which was being built illegally, Singh had said the villagers themselves demolished the wall and no JCB machines were deployed. He also mentioned that there was no apparent threat of any breach of law and order in the area. However, the report of local intelligence unit (LIU) of the state police stated Nagpal’s action were a threat to peace.
With the transfer of the district magistrate, the state government has completely dismantled the team which had acted against illegal sand mining in the flood plains of Yamuna and Hindon rivers in Noida and Greater Noida area.