Sharma's actions also angered the state home minister Gordhan Zadafia, who is reported to have said that "the ratio of deaths" due to police firing was "not proper," meaning that more Hindus than Muslims died due to police firing in Bhavnagar. Sharma also refused to release 21 miscreants arrested for attack on a mosque, as requested by BJP politicians. Local Gujarati newspapers complained that Hindus were not able to avenge the Godhra train burning. Sharma was transferred out of field operations on 24 March and posted as the deputy commissioner of police (DCP) in Ahmedabad's control room.