Major Police Department Overhaul in West Bengal Ahead of Crucial Assembly Elections
In a significant administrative move just months before the West Bengal Assembly elections, the state government has executed a comprehensive reshuffle of its police department leadership. This strategic overhaul aims to bolster law and order and streamline security apparatus as the state prepares for the upcoming electoral process.
Key Appointments in Senior Police Leadership
The most prominent change involves the appointment of 1993-batch IPS officer Peeyush Pandey as the acting Director General of Police (In-charge). This move comes as incumbent DGP Rajeev Kumar superannuates, and sources indicate it represents a strategic decision by the state administration to ensure continuity in police hierarchy without awaiting formal approval from the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Simultaneously, Supratim Sarkar, formerly ADG & IGP of South Bengal, has been appointed as the new Kolkata Police Commissioner. Sarkar, known for his extensive administrative experience, replaces Manoj Kumar Verma, who has been reassigned to the sensitive role of Director, Security.
Strategic Portfolio Reassignments
The reshuffle extends to several crucial portfolios that will play vital roles during the election period. Vineet Kumar Goyal has been moved to the critical Law and Order (L&O) portfolio, a position that will face intense scrutiny from both opposition parties and the Election Commission in the coming weeks. Goyal, who will also hold additional charge as ADG of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), previously served as Kolkata Police Commissioner during the RG Kar Medical College incident.
Additionally, Jawed Shamim, who previously served as ADG (law and order), takes over as ADG of the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) with additional responsibility for the Intelligence Branch (IB).
Comprehensive Leadership Changes Across Departments
The administrative reshuffle encompasses a broad spectrum of leadership positions across various police and security departments:
- Ajey Mukund Ranade has been posted as ADG, Telecommunication, moving from his previous role as ADG & CG, Home Guards
- Vishal Garg, IGP, CID, has been designated as ADG, Cyber Cell
- Anuj Sharma has been moved to DG, Fire & Emergency Services
- Natarajan Ramesh Babu to DG & CG, Home Guards
- Siddh Nath Gupta to DG, Correctional Services
- Sanjay Singh to Director, Civil Defence in the rank of DG
Middle-Tier Leadership Reassignments
The order also includes significant changes in middle-tier leadership positions across various police commissionerates and ranges:
- Praveen Kumar Tripathi appointed as Barrackpore Commissioner of Police (CP)
- Murli Dhar takes over as Bidhannagar CP
- Koteswara Rao appointed as Chandannagar CP
- Amit P. Javalgi moved to IGP, Burdwan Range
- Mukesh appointed as IGP, Murshidabad & Jangipur Range
Notably, Mukesh previously served as Bidhannagar CP during the recent high-profile Messi event in Kolkata.
Strategic Implications for Election Preparedness
This comprehensive reshuffle, issued by order of the Governor and described as being in the interest of public service, represents a calculated move by the state administration to strengthen the security framework ahead of the Assembly elections. The timing suggests a deliberate effort to establish a robust law and order mechanism before the Election Commission assumes control of the state poll machinery.
The appointment of an acting DGP rather than a permanent replacement reflects the state government's approach to navigating procedural requirements while maintaining administrative continuity during this critical pre-election period.
