Patna, May 5 (IANS) Following the recent spurt in crimes, including the abduction of a doctor and his wife in Gaya district, the Bihar government on Tuesday transferred 17 IPS officers including Gaya senior superintendent of police (SSP), officials said.

Soon after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held a meeting with the chief secretary and the state police chief to review the progress in the ongoing police operations to locate abducted doctor Pankaj Gupta and his wife, the home department issued a notification on the transfers.

"In view of serious concern of the chief minister about checking and controlling crime, Bihar DGP P.K. Thakur has ordered transfer of some IPS officers to send a strong message that government would not compromise, and deal strongly with criminals," an official in the home department said.

Manu Maharaj will be the new SSP of Gaya replacing P. Kannan, who has been accused of negligence and inaction after the abduction of the doctor and his wife.

Maharaj is seen as a tough and hard working police official.

Another IPS officer Kundan Krishnan has been posted as Inspector General of Police (IG), Patna Zone. He will hold the additional charge of IG (Security, Special Branch).