In a fresh reshuffle in the West Bengal police setup ahead of the Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India has ordered removal of 81 police inspectors and 68 sub-inspectors from all election-related duties.
The poll body made it clear that these officers will no longer be associated with any aspect of the electoral process, either directly or indirectly.
According to an official notification issued on Thursday, the removed inspectors have been assigned new responsibilities and must join their respective postings by 5 p.m. on Friday.
The Commission has also directed the concerned Superintendents of Police to ensure compliance and submit written undertakings confirming that the officers will not interfere in poll-related work in any manner.
In a separate directive concerning sub-inspectors, the Commission referred to its earlier 29 March order, when 150 inspectors and sub-inspectors were removed from election duties.
Of them, 49 sub-inspectors currently serving in various police stations have now been instructed to be transferred out of their present districts.
The Commission reiterated that they must remain completely detached from any election-related responsibilities.
Additionally, another 19 sub-inspectors have been specifically ordered to be removed from poll duty under a separate notification.
The list of inspectors removed spans multiple districts across the state, including Cooch Behar, Raiganj, Islampur, Alipurduar, South Dinajpur, Siliguri, Diamond Harbour, Baruipur, Barasat, Basirhat, Bongaon, Barrackpore, Bidhannagar, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, Asansol-Durgapur, West Midnapore, East Midnapore, Purulia, Birbhum, Jalpaiguri, Malda and Bankura, indicating a widespread administrative intervention.
West Bengal is scheduled to go to polls in two phases on 23 April and 29 April for all 294 Assembly seats. Since the announcement of the election, the state administration has been under the control of the Election Commission, which has undertaken sweeping changes in the administrative and police machinery.
Key positions, including the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and Police Commissioner, have already been reshuffled.
The ruling Trinamul Congress has expressed strong reservations over the Commission’s aggressive administrative measures.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly criticised the poll body at public rallies, questioning its decisions and alleging overreach, particularly over officer transfers.
Meanwhile, former Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar has not been granted relief from election duty. Despite citing health concerns and seeking exemption from his assignment in Tamil Nadu, Commission sources confirmed that he will have to proceed as an observer for poll duties in the southern state.