The Punjab government has carried out a major reshuffle in the police department, transferring and promoting 22 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers across the state. The orders, issued by the Department of Home Affairs on January 10, came into force with immediate effect and were made on administrative grounds.
The exercise includes changes at the levels of Special Director General of Police, Additional Director General, Inspector General, Deputy Inspector General, and Senior Superintendent of Police. The reshuffle is aimed at strengthening policing, improving accountability, and reinforcing key security and intelligence wings of the state.
One of the most prominent appointments in this round of postings is that of Jyoti Yadav, wife of Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains. She has been appointed as the new Senior Superintendent of Police of Bathinda, a district that holds strategic importance in the Malwa region. She replaces Darpan Ahluwalia, who has now been posted as SSP Khanna.
Among the senior-level transfers, Naresh Kumar has been shifted from Special DGP, Human Rights, Punjab, to Special DGP, Punjab State Human Rights Commission in Chandigarh. Amardeep Singh Rai continues as Special DGP, Traffic and Road Safety, and has also been given the additional charge of the Public Grievances Division.
Kaustubh Sharma, who earlier served as Inspector General of Police with the Anti-Narcotics Task Force, has been promoted to the rank of Additional Director General in the Human Rights wing. Jagadale Nilambari Vijay, previously DIG of Faridkot Range, has been elevated to Inspector General of Police and posted as IGP of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force at SAS Nagar, while also holding additional charge of the Faridkot Range.
Several officers from the 2011 batch have been promoted to Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General ranks. Rajpal Singh has been promoted to IGP, Crime, Punjab, with additional charge of IGP, PAP-2. Snehdeep Sharma is now DIG, Anti-Gangster Task Force, Ludhiana, along with the additional charge of DIG, Ferozepur Range. Sandeep Goel has been retained and promoted as DIG, Border Range, Amritsar, while Jasdev Singh Sidhu has taken charge as DIG, Security, Punjab Lok Bhavan in Chandigarh.
Officers from the 2012 IPS batch have also received significant promotions. Sandeep Kumar Garg has been promoted to DIG in the Intelligence wing, Dhruv Dahiya to DIG in Counter-Intelligence, Gulneet Singh Khurana to DIG in Counter-Intelligence, and Akhil Chaudhary to DIG in the Anti-Narcotics Task Force.
Several other important postings were also announced. Amneet Kondal has been posted as DIG, Personnel, with additional charges. Gurpreet Singh has been appointed DIG, CDO, Patiala. Rupinder Singh becomes Additional Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana. Sarabjit Singh is now DIG, Crime, Bureau of Investigation, while Harpreet Singh Jaggi has taken over as DIG, Economic Offences Wing of the Vigilance Bureau. Ravjot Grewal has been placed in Services at the disposal of the Vigilance Bureau.
At the district level, Maninder Singh has been posted as SSP Rupnagar in place of Gulneet Singh Khurana. Darpan Ahluwalia is now SSP Khanna, replacing Jyoti Yadav. Rishabh Bhola has been appointed as Staff Officer to the Director General of Police, Punjab.
The large-scale reshuffle reflects the Punjab government’s focus on strengthening law and order, boosting anti-drug and anti-crime operations, and improving the functioning of intelligence and vigilance units. By placing experienced officers in key positions, the state aims to enhance public safety and ensure more effective policing across Punjab.