Shunted Or Rewarded? IPS Officer Y B Khurania Repatriation To Odisha Fuels Speculation

Bhubaneswar: The Centre has removed Border Security Force (BSF) Director General (DG) Nitin Agrawal, and his deputy, Special DG (West) Y B Khurania, from their positions and sent them back to their respective state cadres.

The notification issued on Friday said that they have been “prematurely” repatriated to their home cadres with “immediate effect”.

Agrawal, a 1989-batch Kerala cadre officer, took charge as BSF chief in June last year, more than five months after the post fell vacant. He was to serve until 2026.

On the other hand, Khurania, belonging to the 1990-batch of the Odisha cadre, was heading the formation of the force along the Line of Control (LoC), the de-facto border between India and Pakistan, that runs for about 2,289 kms along Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat in India’s western flank. His return to Odisha has led to speculation about his likely appointment as the next director general of police (DGP) of the state.

Arun Kumar Sarangi, also a 1990-batch officer, has been serving as the DGP in-charge since December 31, 2023.

WHY WERE THEY REMOVED?

The unprecedented move came amid a spike in terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Though the government order didn’t state why the two officers were removed from their posts but sources quoted by NDTV cited constant infiltration from the international border as one of the major factors.

A total of 28 people- 14 security personnel and 14 civilians – were killed in 11 terror-initiated incidents and 24 encounters or counter-terror operations up to July 21 this year, the Ministry of Home Affairs told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Also, sources told the news outlet that there have been complaints against Agrawal over alleged lack of coordination. “Premature repatriation to the cadre of two very senior officers is definitely a strong message from the government to the forces to get their act together,” an officer was quoted as saying.

Khurania had chaired a security review meeting attended by the IG BSF Jammu, IG BSF Kashmir, and senior officers of the Jammu frontier on the day the order was issued.

It’s the first time that the government has taken direct action against top officers in terror-related cases. No known accountability was fixed by the Home Ministry after the Pulwama attack in 2019, the report added.

IS KHURANIA THE RIGHT DGP CHOICE?

Can an officer, who tenure was cut short amid heightened militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir, appointed to the highest post in Odisha police?

Law and order in Odisha continues to be a challenge due to Maoists activities. The state is also witnessing an increase in drug trafficking and cyber crimes.

Though it is believed that Agarwal was relieved from BSF charge due to increased infiltration in the Jammu sector, there have been no direct negative reports on Khurania. Moreover, two separate orders were issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on their premature repatriation to home cadres. The appointment of 1989-batch Odisha cadre IPS officer Amrit Mohan Prasad as a SDG in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is also being seen a move to make space for his junior.

Also Read: Senior IPS Officer Y B Khurania To Be Next Odisha DGP! Centre Approves His Immediate Repatriation

Three names have to be recommended to UPSC for the selection of a full-time DGP. If the government recommends names based on seniority, with Prasad on central deputation, Khurania is number three after Arun Kumar Ray (1988-batch officer) and S M Narvane (1989-batch officer). Ray is currently posted as Director, Printing, Stationary and Publication, Cuttack, and Narvane as OSD, Home Department.

Khurania joined the BSF in 2018 on deputation. During his tenure with the BSF, he has served as IG Frontier headquarters, south Bengal; IG (Personnel) at the force headquarters; and additional DG, Eastern Command in Kolkata. Prior to his appointment as special DG of BSF’s Western Command, he was serving as the special DG of Operations at the BSF headquarters in New Delhi.

In Odisha, he served as SP of Rourkela, Mayurbhanj, Ganjam and several other districts. On promotion to the deputy inspector general/inspector general rank, he was posted as range DIG/IG of Bhubaneswar Range, Southern Range Berhampur and Northern Range Sambalpur. Besides, he served as IG Operations, police commissioner of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, and special director of state vigilance.