Nithari killings: Senior Noida cop removed

Noida Senior Superintendent of Police R K S Rathore was on Saturday removed from the post and shifted to Lucknow by the Uttar Pradesh government which suspended Dinesh Yadav, Circle Officer in Nithari following a sting operation purportedly showing him accepting favours from businessman Mohinder Singh Pandher, one of the accused in the killing of children.

Giving this information, ruling Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh told reporters that Rajiv Sabharwal, SSP Kumbh Mela, will replace Rathore.

Rathore, against whom a high-level official committee had recorded adverse findings in the Nithari children killings episode and recommended action, has been attached to the DGP's office in Lucknow.

Yadav was transferred to 14th PAC battalion in Agra on Friday after Tehelka magazine conducted a sting operation, which also showed that he had travelled to Allahabad and Lucknow at Pandher's expense and also met minister Shivpal Singh Yadav, brother of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

"Rathore is also being shifted," Amar Singh said adding that Rathore's name had also cropped up in the report of the committee set by the government to probe the matter.