PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday seemed to dismiss the public outcry against the transfer of Patna's popular City CP (central)Shivdeep Lande when he said that Lande's transfer was a "non-issue". 

He was transferred to another district as superintendent of police in the "larger interest of the young IPS officer's career", said the CM who was asked to react on the 'ill-timed' transfer of the official, who had scared the wrongdoers. The official has now been given independent charge, that too of a sensitive district like Araria, he added. 

Unwillingly reacting to queries regarding the transfer, the CM said maintaining law and order and winning public confidence was the duty of the police machinery and "it's not that this happened in Patna in the last 9-10 months only". 

He added, "It was not proper to keep him under an SP according to rules of the IPS code." "Sometimes media projects someone who comes to the forefront." 

Stating that he ought not to speak on administrative issues, the CM said government keeps a watch on the functioning of the police force and takes action against wrongdoers. "Recently, a vigilance DSP was arrested as per the rules," he said.