In the single largest administrative realignment since the recent regime change in the state, the BJP government on Monday executed a sweeping overhaul of the state’s police machinery, transferring and promoting as many as 179 senior IPS and West Bengal Police Service (WBPS) officers. From top-tier police commissioners and range heads to crucial district Superintendents of Police (SPs), virtually no zone has been left untouched in this structural change.
While a systemic restructuring of Nabanna, the state secretariat, and district administration has already been going on in multiple phases since the new government took over in May; Monday’s notification represents the most aggressive single-day rejig in the state’s law enforcement force.
Who’s who now?
Significantly, the reshuffle also marks a major homecoming for several top police officers who had been abruptly transferred or sent to other states, and kept on the sidelines by the Election Commission of India during its stringent pre-poll crackdown in the state in March. The ECI had in March reshuffled around 480 officers across multiple tiers in what it said was an attempt to ensure neutrality during the elections.
Besides, key districts with high political and law-and-order sensitivities — such as Birbhum, Diamond Harbour, and multiple border zones — have received new police chiefs. Alongside lateral transfers, a substantial number of officers have also been granted long-awaited promotions.
Here are some key changes:
CID
Ajay Kumar Thakur, IPS, previously serving as DIG in the state Crime Investigation Department, has been promoted and posted as IGP, CID.
Indra Chakravorty, IPS, replaced him as the DIG, CID. She was previously serving as SS (Senior Superintendent), CID (in the rank of DIG).
STF
IGP, Bankura Range, Rajesh Kumar Yadav has been posted as IGP, Special Task Force.
Rupesh Kumar, IPS has been posted as DIG, STF. He was previously Joint Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Kolkata.
IB
Murlidhar Sharma, has been appointed as IGP, IB (Intelligence Branch). He was previously awaiting posting.
Traffic
DIG, Railways, S Selvamurugan (IPS) has been posted as DIG, Traffic, West Bengal.
DIG, Midnapore Range, Arijit Sinha, and Subhankar Bhattacharya, Jt. CP AP (Armed Police), have also been posted as DIGs Traffic.
Kolkata Police
Kunal Aggarwal, IPS is now Additional CP, Crime, Kolkata Police. He was serving as DIG, West Bengal National Volunteer Force (WBNVF), in the rank of IGP.
Others
Alok Rajoria, IPS is now IGP Legal. He was previously DIG, IB. Soma Das Mitra, IPS (Jt. CP, Crime) has been promoted to IGP Policy.