Amritsar The Punjab government has transferred senior IPS officer Gurpreet Singh Bhullar out of his role as the Amritsar Police Commissioner. DIG (Border Range) Harman Bir Singh Gill has been handed additional charge of the post. The abrupt timing of the transfer—occurring shortly after a high-stakes anti-terror operation and controversial statements regarding public demonstrations—has sparked intense political debate across the state. The Trigger: Anti-Terror Operation and Jantar Mantar Connection Just days before his transfer, the Amritsar Police under Bhullar’s leadership dismantled a major terror module backed by Pakistan’s ISI. The Arrests: Police apprehended nine individuals (including four minors) and seized pistols, live ammunition, and petrol bombs. The Intelligence: Investigators revealed that overseas handlers directed the operatives to conduct reconnaissance on security installations. The Controversy: Bhullar publicly stated that key members of the module had traveled to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar during a protest organized by a group called the Cockroach Janta Party. He alleged they conducted a survey and planned to attack protesters using petrol bombs. Clarification and State Government Response The statement led to speculation in various political circles that terror operatives were embedded within the protest movement. To control the fallout, the Punjab government issued an official clarification, stating that Bhullar’s remarks had been selectively edited. The government emphasized that the police chief never claimed the arrestees were part of the protest organization itself or that the demonstrators had ties to the terror module. Despite the clarification, Bhullar was reassigned shortly afterward, leading critics to question whether his statements directly influenced the decision. Official sources have not confirmed any link between the remarks and the transfer order. Who is IPS Gurpreet Singh Bhullar? Gurpreet Singh Bhullar is a 2004-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre. Prior to his posting in Amritsar, he served in key administrative positions, including Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in major districts like Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Bhullar gained national attention in 2016 following the mandatory public disclosure of immovable assets, which revealed declared assets exceeding ₹150 crore, making him one of the wealthiest police officers in the country. Political Fallout in Punjab Opposition leaders and political commentators have seized on the development. Critics who previously accused Bhullar of being close to the ruling party are now questioning the government’s motives. Senior political figures have openly asked whether the timing of the reassignment was connected to the officer’s revelations regarding the alleged plot in the national capital. Post navigation CJP announced its National Working Committee; Abhijit Dipke became the Convener. Sangeetha has withdrawn the divorce petition against Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Thalapathy.
