Bihar’s police chief Abhayanand, who was criticised after a series of blasts targeted an election rally addressed by Narendra Modi in Patna last year, was removed.
Mr. Abhayanand was to retire in December. He has been replaced as Director General of Police by PK Thakur, a 1980 batch Indian Police Service officer.
Sources say Bihar’s Janata Dal United government blames Mr. Abhayanand for deteriorating law and order in the state. He will now look after Home Guards and Fire Services as its Director General.
Mr. Abhayananad was accused of lapses in security and poor policing after the bombings near Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on October 27, moments before Mr. Modi addressed a rally.
Sources say there was a “trust deficit” between the state government and the police officer since then.
Six people were killed and over 80 injured in the attacks, which led to a bitter blame-game between the BJP and its former ally, then Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Mr. Modi took charge as the country’s Prime Minister last month after his party won a massive mandate in the national election. “If it wasn’t for God, Modi may not be standing here,” he said in April, referencing the blasts.
