Election Commission Executes Ninth Mass Transfer, Reshuffling 59 Kolkata Police Officers
In a significant administrative move, the Election Commission (EC) issued its ninth mass transfer order on Saturday, affecting 59 officers, including key personnel from the Kolkata Police. This latest reshuffle involves the transfer of joint commissioners overseeing crime, headquarters, and intelligence, along with five Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and six Officers-in-Charge (OCs).
Unprecedented Scale of Transfers During General Election
Since March 16, the EC has transferred a total of 542 officers, a scale of administrative changes that has never been witnessed in West Bengal during any previous general election. This massive reshuffle comes against the backdrop of heightened political tensions, including the April 2 clash between BJP and Trinamool Congress supporters during Union Home Minister Amit Shah's rally in Bhowanipore and the April 1 protests at the EC's Strand Road offices.
Just two days after the April 2 incident, the EC took disciplinary action by suspending four senior Kolkata Police officers, including the DCP (II) South, and initiating proceedings against them. The transfers are seen as part of the EC's efforts to ensure impartiality and maintain law and order during the election period.
Key Appointments and Replacements in Senior Ranks
Among the notable changes, Rupesh Kumar, the outgoing joint commissioner (crime), has been reassigned. Kumar, who was singled out by Bengal opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari for alleged bias, will now focus solely on his role as joint commissioner (traffic), relinquishing his dual charge of crime and traffic.
He will be replaced by Soma Das Mitra, DIG CID, who previously headed the Bengal SIT Sandeshkhali probe, which was later transferred to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court. Other key appointments include Sudeep Sarkar as the new joint commissioner (headquarters) and Debasmita Das, the DIG Bengal STF, as the joint commissioner (intelligence).
At the DCP level, VSR Ananthnag has been appointed as the new DCP (South), while Saikat Ghosh takes over as DCP (South East). The DCPs of the North, East, and Bhangor divisions have also been changed, reflecting a comprehensive overhaul of leadership across multiple zones.
Additional Transfers Fill Vacancies and Address Oversights
Immediately following the transfer of 12 IPS officers, the EC issued another list to fill critical vacancies. At the Alipore police station, where both OC Priyankar Chakraborty and additional OC Chandi Charan Banerjee were suspended after the April 2 incident, Tapan Nath has been appointed as OC and Chameli Mukherjee as additional OC.
Further adjustments include the appointment of Salil Kumar Roy as an ACP to head the DD's Anti-Rowdy Squad and Sourav Bhattacharjee taking over as Kasba OC, a post that had been vacant. Notably, Biswajit Debnath, who was appointed as Kasba OC just six days earlier, was removed after reportedly failing to mention Sona Pappu as a history-sheeter in his report to the EC.
The OCs of Burtolla, Phoolbagan, and Ultadanga were also changed in this extensive transfer order, ensuring a widespread impact on police station leadership.
Widespread Impact Across West Bengal Police Districts
The third and final part of the transfer order involved 29 Bengal police officers, with new postings in Barrackpore, Bhatpara, Bijpur, Naihati, Noapara, Halisahar, Mohanpur, and Basudebpur. This effectively shifts all officers in the industrial belt under the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate, aiming to bring fresh perspectives and enhance security in key economic zones.
In the Diamond Harbour police district, the officers heading Mograhat, Usthi, and Kakdwip have been replaced, while three transfers each were made in the Darjeeling district and the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate. These changes underscore the EC's commitment to maintaining a neutral and efficient police force across various regions of West Bengal during the election period.
The cumulative effect of these transfers highlights the Election Commission's proactive approach to addressing potential biases and ensuring a fair electoral process, as the state navigates through a politically charged environment.
