Handpicked by the Election Commission to go after political goon squads in two of Bihar’s most troubled districts ahead of the Assembly elections, the District Magistrates of Siwan and Gopalganj were today shunted out on the orders of Governor Buta Singh. Orders for the transfer of Siwan DM C K Anil and Gopalganj DM K K Pathak to the Patna secretariat have raised eyebrows because both went after RJD MPs Mohammed Shahabuddin and Sadhu Yadav—one a protege of Laloo Prasad Yadav and the other his brother-in-law—in the run-up to the elections, even ordering them out of the districts to ensure free and fair polls. Although their actions were not backed by officials and leaders in Patna, there was wide public appreciation of the fact that the two DMs had stood up to the RJD strongmen. In a state where voters are regularly terrorised during elections, the crackdown in Siwan and Gopalganj was a welcome change. So when word spread today that the two officials had been transferred, the CPI(M-L), BJP and LJP were quick to criticise the Governor. While the CPI(M-L) said ‘‘the removal of the DMs will now give a free hand to RJD criminals’’, BJP leader Sushil Modi said that ‘‘Buta Singh is signalling a return of RJD rule. Being a powerful partner in the UPA, Laloo is controlling the office of the Governor.’’ Buta Singh reacted angrily to Modi’s charge: ‘‘Mujhe Rajyapal ki maryada maloom hai aur Modi se jyada hum Consitution ke bare mein jaante hain (I know the sanctity of the post of the Governor and happen to know more about the Constitution than Modi).’’ Chief Secretary K A H Subramanian maintained that both officials had put in requests for transfers and that the state government had no particular interest. Anil’s IPS wife Shobha Ohatker is moving to Maharashtra on deputation and he plans to do the same. Subramanian said that Pathak had sought a transfer on health grounds. Santosh Kumar Mall, vice-chairman of Patna Regional Development Authority (PRDA), will take charge of Siwan while Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) secretary Brajesh Mehrotra will be the new Gopalganj DM. Anil will replace Mehrotra in the BSEB wile Pathak will take charge of PRDA. Anil had taken on RJD MP Shahabuddin, externing him from the district limits during the polls. After booking Shahabuddin under Bihar Control of Crimes Act, Anil had transferred him to Beur jail from Siwan jail but Rabri Devi, the then chief minister, declined to confirm the order. Shahabuddin was released in March after the election process was completed. Last month, Anil initiated fresh proceedings under the CCA against Shahabuddin. Raids on the MP’s ancestral house in Pratappur led to the recovery of firearms, ammunition and foreign currency notes.
