In a significant administrative move just before the upcoming assembly elections, the West Bengal government executed a comprehensive reshuffle of its police leadership on Friday. This restructuring, potentially the last major overhaul before the polls, saw the appointment of Peeyush Pandey as the acting Director General of Police and Supratim Sarkar as the new Commissioner of Kolkata Police.
Extensive Transfers Across Police Hierarchy
The reshuffle extended beyond the top positions, affecting police commissioners in key suburban areas including Bidhannagar, Howrah, Barrackpore, and Chandernagore. While the retirement of incumbent DGP Rajeev Kumar on Saturday necessitated some changes, the widespread nature of these transfers caught many by surprise, indicating a strategic realignment of law enforcement command ahead of the electoral process.
New Leadership Profiles and Backgrounds
Peeyush Pandey, a 1993-batch Indian Police Service officer, steps into the role of acting DGP amidst a unique circumstance. The state government faced challenges with the Union Public Service Commission's reluctance to comply with a Central Administrative Tribunal order regarding DGP selection, leading to this interim appointment. Pandey brings impressive credentials to the position, holding an M.Tech from IIT Kanpur and a law degree. His recent assignment as Director (Security) since 2022 followed a security breach at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence, where he revamped the state's VVIP security wing, leveraging his prior experience with the Special Protection Group.
Supratim Sarkar, the newly appointed Kolkata Police commissioner, is a 1997-batch IPS officer and Presidency College Economics alumnus. Transitioning from his role as Additional Director General of South Bengal, Sarkar possesses extensive experience within the city's police force, including previous service as an additional police commissioner, making him well-acquainted with Kolkata's law enforcement landscape.
Strategic Postings for Election Preparedness
The reshuffle also involved key appointments critical for election management. Vineet Goyal assumes the crucial position of Additional Director General (Law and Order), a role pivotal during elections for coordinating with the Election Commission and Central Armed Police Forces under the model code of conduct. Goyal previously served as Kolkata Police commissioner and later headed the Special Task Force during the RG Kar Hospital incident. His predecessor, Jawed Shamim, now takes charge of the Bengal Special Task Force.
Another notable transfer includes Anuj Sharma moving from DGP (Armed Police) to DGP (Fire), replacing the retiring Ranveer Kumar. This change gains significance following the tragic Anandapur warehouse fire that claimed 27 lives, highlighting the importance of fire service leadership.
Suburban Police Commissioner Changes
In the city suburbs, Murli Dhar replaces Mukesh as the Bidhannagar police commissioner. Mukesh had faced scrutiny from a probe committee after the Messi event fiasco at Salt Lake stadium, although no disciplinary action was taken at that time. These suburban adjustments reflect the government's focus on comprehensive police administration across urban and peripheral regions.
This sweeping police reshuffle underscores the West Bengal government's efforts to position experienced officers in strategic roles, ensuring robust law and order management during the critical pre-election period and addressing recent security and safety challenges.
