Gujarat transfers DGP Pande, police chief Mathur

The Gujarat government has transferred the state's controversial Director General of Police P C Pande, who had come under cloud during the post-Godhra communal riots in 2002, apparently to prempt such a move by the Election Commission ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

S S Khandwawala, who belongs to minority community, was appointed as new DGP. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner O P Mathur has also been shifted and replaced by H K Saikia, sources in the Chief Minister's office said. Pande, who was DGP during the 2007 elections was transferred by the Election Commission ahead of the state assembly elections.

He was the Ahmedabad city police commissioner during the post-Godhra riots. Sources said, government anticipates that EC might once again transfer Pande as Lok Sabha poll dates may be announced next month and the Code of Conduct will go into force.

Pande, the senior most serving IPS officer (1970 batch) in the country, has been posted as Director General of Anti-Corruption Bureau while Mathur is new Director General of Communications. Both Pande and Mathur are going to retire on March 31, 2009. Though the government maintained these are routine transfers sources said the actions were taken keeping in mind the Lok Sabha elections.