Madhya Pradesh IPS officer’s transfer stirs row

Bhopal, Jan 13 (IANS) The transfer of Superintendent of Police Gaurav Tiwari, who uncovered a Rs 500 crore hawala scam in Katni district of Madhya Pradesh, has kicked up a political row in the state and an employees union has threatened an indefinite strike.

While on the one hand, the residents of the district are angry, the Class-III Government Employees Association led by Arun Dwivedi has announced an indefinite strike from February 3 if Tiwari's transfer is not revoked.

Talking to IANS on Friday, Dwivedi said: "Tiwari is an honest officer. The names of many influential people came up in his probe into the hawala scam due to which he was transferred."

"If the transfer is not revoked by February 2, over five lakh employees of our association will go on an indefinite strike from February 3," he said.

Tiwari was transferred on Monday evening, even before he could complete his probe into the case. The government has been accused of using the transfer ploy to save a minister.

Katni district is in the throes of protest following the transfer decision, with the government and the opposition engaged in trading of charges.

In view of the growing clamour in the district, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has requested the Directorate of Enforcement to investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, the Congress has accused the government of trying to suppress the matter.