Bengaluru: In an unexpected move, the state government transferred city Police Commissioner Praveen Sood and replaced him with T. Suneel Kumar, who was Additional Director General of Police & Managing Director of Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation Ltd.
The government's decision has not only shocked many senior officers, as Mr Sood now has the dubious honour of having had the shortest stint as the city police chief.
The notification issued to this effect on Monday has raised several speculations over what might have led to the transfer of Mr Sood. It is said that the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, was miffed with M. Sood for giving out warning to pro-Kannada activists, who went on a series of protests against the imposition of Hindi at Namma Metro stations. Following the activists of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike pasting black paint over a sign in Hindi at K. R. Market Metro Station, an FIR was registered at Kalasipalya police station.
This had led to the pro-Kannada activists to protest against Mr. Sood. Even Kannada writers had supported and taken part in the protest and had criticised the police action, demanding that the cases against Kannada activists should be dropped. Following this Mr. Sood had said, "People of the land have all the rights to fight for the cause concerning to their identity, language and culture. The police will support such campaigns. But, if the laws are violated, nothing will stop us from taking action against such violators.”
Sources said Mr. Sood taking a tough line towards Kannada activists had upset the government, when the CM himself had written to the Union Government to review the earlier decision on the use of three languages - Kannada, Hindi and English - on all name boards and signage in Namma Metro stations, citing public sentiments. It is strongly believed that this issue led the government to nudge Mr. Sood out.
Rumours are also rife that Mr. Sood did not enjoy complete cooperation from his senior colleagues and also did not have a good rapport with Mr. Kemapaiah, the Advisor to the Home Minister.
Further, senior officials in the city are reported to be behind the move to see that Mr. Sood is transferred, although the reasons remain unclear and had even got together to give a negative impression of Mr. Sood's functioning to the government. All these factors reportedly worked against Mr. Sood and finally the government shunted him out exactly seven months after he took charge.
