In row after post-midnight cremation of rape victim, Hathras DM transferred

LUCKNOW: In the centre of a raging controversy after the post-midnight cremation of a rape victim in Hathras on September 30, allegedly without her family’s consent, Hathras district magistrate Pravin Kumar Laxkar was transferred to Mirzapur in the same capacity on Thursday.
The change, being called a routine transfer by the government, was implemented on the last day of 2020. Allahabad high court is scheduled to hear the Hathras case on January 27, 2021.Laxkar is being replaced by Ramesh Ranjan, who was joint MD at UP Jal Nigam.
While the family of the victim, who died on September 29, has been demanding the transfer of Laxkar from Hathras, the high court, which had taken a suo motu cognizance of the 'forcible cremation', asked the government during previous hearings when the police chief was suspended after incident, why no action was taken against the DM.
In a series of transfers on Thursday, additional CEO of Noida, Shruti, has been transferred to Balrampur as the DM. Krishna Karunesh, who she is replacing, has been moved to the Ghaziabad Development Authority as the vice-chairperson. Kanchan Kumar, the earlier VC of GDA, has been posted as managing director of the UP Medical Supply Corporation. In all, 17 IAS officers were transferred on Thursday.
Dr Nitin Bansal, the DM of Gonda, has been transferred as DM Pratapgarh. He is being replaced by Markandey Shahi, who was earlier special secretary, medical education. Sanjiv Singh, DM Fatehpur, is the new DM of Chandauli. Navneet Singh Chahal, who he replaces, is the new DM of Mathura.
The earlier Mathura DM, Sarvagya Ram Mishra, has been posted as special secretary, state tax. The new Fatehpur CM is Apurva Dubey, who was special secretary housing and urban planning. Pratapharh DM Dr Rupesh Kumar is the new special secretary sugar and sugarcane while Bhupendra Chaudhary is the new special secretary irrigation.
Sunil Kumar Verma is the new DM of Auraiya, replacing Abhishek Singh-II who is now DM Sonebhadra. S Rajlinga, who was DM Sonebhadra, is the new DM of Kushinagar.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)