Kolkata, 28 April (H.S.): A major reshuffle in the police administration has been carried out just a day before the second phase of polling in the state. In view of recent incidents of violence and clashes across parts of South Bengal, the Election Commission of India has taken strict measures to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections.

According to a notification issued by the Additional Director General (Law & Order), 26 police officers who were deployed during the first phase of polling have been reassigned for duty in the second phase as well.

As per the report, several officers have been redeployed to key areas. These include Additional SP Siddhar Dorji from Lalbagh in Murshidabad, SDPO Raviraj Avasthi from Dalkhola, SDPO Gaikwad Nilesh Shrikant from Ghatal, and SDPO Soumyajit Ray from Naxalbari, all of whom have been posted to the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate.

Meanwhile, following the Election Commission’s directive, SSF Battalion Commandant Praveen Prakash has been assigned responsibility for the Howrah Police Commissionerate area. MJ Mercy and Khandbahale Umesh Ganpat have been deployed in the Chandannagar Police Commissionerate.

In district-level postings, Animesh Roy and Dhiraj Thakur have been given charge of Barasat Police District, while Atish Biswas has been assigned to Basirhat Police District. Additional SP Samir Ahmed of Raiganj, Additional SP George Allen John of Purulia, and Assistant SP Akashdeep Gehlot of the state Special Task Force have been posted to Diamond Harbour Police District.

Notably, since the announcement of elections, there has been a continuous reshuffle of police and IPS officers. Observers from other states—including Bihar, Telangana, Delhi, Punjab, and Gujarat—have also been deployed, with responsibilities assigned at the district level.

Moreover, the Election Commission had earlier undertaken significant changes in top police leadership as well. Piyush Pandey was replaced by Siddhinath Gupta as the new Director General of Police, while Supratim Sarkar was replaced by Ajay Nand as the new Commissioner of Kolkata Police.

Additionally, Indira Mukhopadhyay was removed from the post of DC (Central), Kolkata. The Commission had also transferred Superintendents of Police in 12 locations across the state, including Birbhum, Diamond Harbour, Purba Medinipur, Cooch Behar, and Malda.

Further reshuffles had already been carried out at the DIG level in Raiganj, Murshidabad, Bardhaman, Jalpaiguri, and the Presidency Range. Police Commissioners of Bidhannagar and Siliguri were also

removed earlier.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey