West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee reinstates many top-level IPS officers removed by EC

Within hours of assuming office for the third time, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday launched a major reshuffle in the police hierarchy, transferring 29 top-level IPS officers, mostly those who were sacked by the Election Commission ahead of state assembly polls.

The top-level cops who have been reinstated to their former positions include DG Virendra, ADG (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim and DG Security Vivek Sahay, an order issued this evening said. Virendra, who was transferred by the EC and Neeraj Nayan Pandey made DG in his place, has been reinstated to his former position. Pandey has been made DG (Fire Services).

Similarly, ADG (Law and Order) Jagmohan has been transferred to the civil defence and Jawed Shamim who was removed by EC alleging police excess during a left rally at Nabanna has been reappointed as the ADG (Law and Order).

In a separate order, Vivek Sahay former DG Security, who was removed by the poll panel alleging a lapse in security arrangements of the chief minister when she was injured in a rally in Purba Medinipur district, has been brought back to his former position. Gyanwant Singh, who worked as ADG Security during the election has retained his post and he has been given the additional responsibility of ADG and IGP of Armed Police.

Another transferred officer Sanjay Singh, officer-on-compulsory-waiting has been posted as ADG and IG of the Western range. In the morning chief minister Mamata Banerjee had indicated that she was not happy with the inefficiency of the police in different areas.

“The administration was not under my control for the last three months. It was under the control of the election commission. There is some inefficiency. We will take decisions regarding this soon,” Banerjee had said.

Mamata brings back Police Commissioners transferred by EC

In addition to this, the state home department has made some significant transfers like bringing back Monoj Verma as the commissioner of Barackpore Commissionerate. Verma was transferred from Barackpore and was made IG of Counter Insurgency Force by the EC.

Similarly, Mitesh Jain who was made the commissioner of Asansol-Durgapur has been sent to compulsory waiting bringing Ajay Thakur as the commissioner of Asansol-Durgapur Commissionerate. Thakur is presently posted as DIG, CID in the state police.

Gourav Sharma, presently working as Commissioner of Chanadannagar has been sent to Siliguri as commissioner and Arnab Ghosh presently posted as member secretary of West Bengal Police Reform Board will take Sharma’s place. DIG, Barasat range Mukesh has also been sent to the officer on compulsory waiting.

The government has transferred the SPs of 16 districts including Sunderban, Purulia, Coochbehar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Baruipur Police District, Purba Medinipur, Howrah, Jangipur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, Purba Bardhaman, Jhargram, Diamond Harbour and Dakshin Dinajpur. Among them, there are some officers who were shunted by the commission during the election.

Bhola Nath Pandey who was transferred by the commission following the attack on BJP President JP Nadda in Diamond Harbour has been made SP of Alipurduar.

Similarly, K Kannan who was sent to OCW (officer-on- compulsory-waiting) during the election was made SP of Cooch Behar and Soumya Roy who was transferred following the controversy of his wife contesting in the election has been brought back as SP Howrah (Rural). 

(With inputs from agency)