The Election Commission of India has ordered another round of administrative reshuffle within the police setup in West Bengal, as part of its efforts to ensure free and fair elections just days ahead of two-phase Assembly polls that are scheduled for 25 and 29 April.
The Commission issued transfer directives affecting around a dozen officers at the IPS and state police (WBPS) levels, with changes spanning Kolkata Police and multiple districts on Saturday.
According to the notification, key appointments have been made at the level of Joint Commissioner in Kolkata Police.
DIG of CID Soma Das Mitra has been brought in as Joint Commissioner (Crime), while Sudip Sarkar has been appointed Joint Commissioner (Headquarters) and Debasmita Das as Joint Commissioner (Intelligence).
The commission has also made key changes at the Deputy Commissioner level.
The notification shows that VSR Ananthanag has been posted as DC (South) whereas Pradeep Kumar Yadav has been posted as DC (North).
In a significant move, Saikat Ghosh has been moved from Bhangar Division to take charge as DC (South East) while Prashant Chowdhury has been appointed DC (East), and Manish Joshi has been posted as DC (Bhangar).
Beyond Kolkata, the Commission has introduced changes across commissionerates and districts.
In the same way, Indrajit Sarkar has been appointed DC (Headquarters) of Chandannagar Police Commissionerate, while Rana Mukhopadhyay has been transferred from Asansol-Durgapur to serve as DC (East) in Siliguri Police Commissionerate.
Chandan Ghosh has taken charge as Additional Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) in Sundarban Police District, and Anandajit Hor has been appointed SDPO of Beldanga.
The move obviously signifies the Commission’s standard practice of rotating officers in sensitive and strategic positions ahead of elections.
To provide proper police support in sensitive areas like Bhangar and Beldanga, the commission has made fresh appointments, indicating the poll body’s focus on maintaining law and order without compromise.