Amritsar: In a sudden administrative move that has sparked a political controversy in Punjab, Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar has been removed from his post, days after he publicly spoke about an alleged Pakistan-linked terror module and its purported reconnaissance of Delhi's Jantar Mantar.

The Punjab government has described the move as being made on administrative grounds. However, the timing of Bhullar's transfer—coming shortly after his remarks about the alleged terror plot—has prompted questions from the Opposition, with BJP leaders suggesting that his statements may have played a role in the decision.

For now, there is no official confirmation that Bhullar was transferred because of his Jantar Mantar remarks. The controversy has instead emerged from the sequence of events: a major terror investigation, a police briefing that attracted national attention, a subsequent government clarification and, days later, the removal of the city's top police officer.

Who is replacing Gurpreet Singh Bhullar as Amritsar Police Commissioner?

According to the transfer order, Bhullar has been removed as Amritsar Police Commissioner and directed to report to the office of the Director General of Police (DGP) until further orders.

Harmanbir Singh Gill, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Border Range, Amritsar, has been given additional charge as Amritsar Police Commissioner. Gill had only recently assumed charge of the Border Range.

The orders were issued on August 7 by Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Principal Secretary to the Punjab Government's Department of Home Affairs, with both officers directed to take up their new assignments with immediate effect. The Times of India reported that the government cited "administrative grounds" for the reshuffle, while sources suggested that the abrupt decision could have been prompted by a controversial statement or decision attributed to Bhullar.

What did Gurpreet Bhullar say about the Jantar Mantar terror plot?

The controversy centres on a police investigation into an alleged terror module that the Amritsar Police said was being operated at the behest of Pakistan-based ISI handlers.

The police had announced the arrest of nine people, including four minors, in connection with the case. Investigators also reported the recovery of three pistols, nine live cartridges and four petrol bomb bottles.

According to the police, the accused were allegedly involved in surveillance or reconnaissance of sensitive security installations. The investigation subsequently gained wider attention because of Bhullar's remarks during an August 4 press briefing.

Bhullar said the investigation had revealed that some of the arrested accused had visited Jantar Mantar in Delhi, conducted reconnaissance in the area and allegedly planned to target protesters with petrol bombs.

The statement immediately became politically sensitive because Jantar Mantar has been the site of ongoing protests, including demonstrations associated with the Citizens' Justice Project (CJP).

Reports around the issue subsequently created an impression that the accused in the terror case were themselves participants in the protests or that there was some connection between the protesters and the alleged terror network.

That interpretation, however, was rejected by the Punjab government.

Punjab government issues clarification

The Punjab government later clarified that Bhullar had not said that the arrested individuals were participants in the Jantar Mantar protests, nor had he claimed that protesters were connected with the alleged terror module.

The government said that selective editing of the police commissioner's remarks had resulted in a "wrongful impression" that the arrested accused were associated with the protesters.

This distinction is important because the police investigation and the protest movement are separate issues. The allegation under investigation was that certain accused persons had conducted reconnaissance around Jantar Mantar and were allegedly planning an attack. It does not, based on the government's clarification, establish that the protesters themselves had any connection with the alleged terror conspiracy.

The clarification did little to prevent the controversy from growing, particularly because Bhullar's transfer followed within days.

Why has Bhullar's transfer raised questions?

The immediate reason cited for the transfer is administrative. No official order has publicly established a direct connection between Bhullar's removal and his comments about Jantar Mantar.

Yet the timing has become the central point of the controversy.

Bhullar was transferred shortly after the Amritsar Police announced a significant terror-related breakthrough and after his remarks brought the investigation into the national spotlight. That sequence has led Opposition leaders to question whether the controversy surrounding his statement influenced the government's decision.

The Times of India reported that highly placed sources suggested there could be more to the sudden move than a routine administrative exercise, although such claims have not been officially confirmed.

NDTV similarly noted that there is no official confirmation that the transfer was linked to the Jantar Mantar remarks.

That distinction matters: the timing has triggered speculation, but speculation is not proof of the reason for the transfer.

BJP questions timing of Gurpreet Bhullar's transfer

The transfer has nevertheless triggered an immediate political response.

Former Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu questioned the timing of Bhullar's removal and suggested that the development warranted scrutiny.

In a post cited by multiple reports, Bittu asked whether Bhullar's revelations about the alleged Jantar Mantar plot had caused political discomfort.

The BJP has framed the transfer as potentially politically motivated, while the Punjab government's position remains that the reshuffle was undertaken on administrative grounds.

The political dimension is also linked to longstanding Opposition criticism of Bhullar. Critics of the Punjab government have previously alleged that he was close to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and, according to reports, have described him as an "extended arm" of the state government.

Those allegations are political claims and have not, by themselves, established any official wrongdoing by Bhullar.

The larger security angle

Beyond the controversy over the transfer, the underlying terror investigation remains significant.

The Amritsar Police's case involves allegations of a Pakistan-linked network operating through ISI handlers. The recovery of firearms, ammunition and petrol bomb bottles, coupled with the alleged surveillance of sensitive locations, formed the basis of the police's public account of the operation.

The alleged reconnaissance of Jantar Mantar added another layer to the case because of the site's symbolic and political importance. Any credible attempt to attack a public protest in the national capital would have serious implications for both public safety and the security of democratic gatherings.

At the same time, investigators will need to establish the precise role of each accused through evidence gathered during the probe. The distinction between an allegation made during an ongoing investigation and a fact established through judicial proceedings remains important.

What happens next?

For the moment, Harmanbir Singh Gill will oversee the Amritsar Police Commissioner's responsibilities, while Bhullar will report to the DGP's office until further orders.

The immediate political question is whether the Punjab government will provide a more detailed explanation for the sudden transfer.

The administrative order itself does not establish that Bhullar was removed because of his Jantar Mantar remarks. But because the move followed so closely after the controversial briefing, questions over the timing are unlikely to disappear quickly.

The episode has therefore developed into two parallel stories: one concerning an alleged Pakistan-backed terror conspiracy and another concerning the sudden transfer of the police officer who publicly spoke about it.

For the investigation, the focus will remain on establishing the alleged terror network, the role of the arrested suspects and the evidence collected against them. For the political establishment, however, the question surrounding Bhullar's transfer may continue to dominate the conversation until the government provides greater clarity on why the Amritsar police chief was moved at this particular moment.

As of August 7, there is no publicly confirmed evidence that Bhullar's transfer was ordered as punishment for his Jantar Mantar remarks. What is established is that the transfer took place days after those remarks, that the Punjab government subsequently clarified the police commissioner's comments, and that Opposition leaders have questioned the timing of the administrative move.

With input from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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