PATNA, April 8: Bihar’s high profile Director General of Police Ashish Ranjan Sinha and 18 senior IPS officers were transferred by the Nitish Kumar Government on Tuesday. Sinha has been replaced by 1970 batch IPS officer S C Jha, presently DG (Home Guard).

Sinha, also of 1970 batch, has been made DG (Home Guard) in place of Jha.

The removal of Sinha is being seen as a fallout of the bitter coterie politics in the police headquarters that was affecting the law and order situation.

Along with DGP Sinha, his “rival” ADG (headquarters) Abhyanand has also been edged out and made ADG (Bihar Military Police), again a shunting posting.

Abhyanand, known as the brain behind the successful speedy trial drive in Bihar, had later locked horns with the DGP.

The clash between the two had gripped the police headquarters for a long time and led to bitter coterie war.

“Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has clipped the wings of both the warring officers. The move hopefully will put an end to coterie politics in the police department,” remarked a senior IPS officer.

By removing Sinha from the top post, Nitish has tried to signal that his governance is above caste considerations.

Sinha was said to be on a strong footing in the police department as he belonged to same caste as the Chief Minister and came from the same native district.