Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has made significant transfers of Officers-in-Charge (OCs) in various police stations in Kolkata. Hirak Dalpati from Park Street police station has been moved to the Intelligence Department, while Neelkanth Roy from Lalbazar’s Detective Department is now the OC of Park Street. Raj Kumar Mishra has been shifted from Shyampukur to Gariahat police station, and Manish Singh from Entali to Vijayganj Bazar police station. Additionally, Manoj Dutta has been appointed as the new OC of Chetla police station after being recalled from STF.
The ECI’s reshuffling of bureaucrats and police officers is part of preparations for the upcoming two-phase elections in the state. A significant restructuring within the Kolkata Police has been mandated by the Commission, resulting in the transfer of several inspector-level officers to different departments such as the Detective Department, STF, or Special Branch. Notably, OC Amitabh Sarkar from Chetla Police Station has been reassigned to STF, and mutual transfers have taken place for the OCs of Hare Street and Thakurpukur police stations, namely Lopsang Tshering Bhutia and Rajiv Sahu.
In a notable move, the city police have introduced partial changes and amendments to orders issued on March 29 through a new directive. The reshuffling of OCs in six Kolkata Police stations was prompted by tension that arose during a roadshow in Bhabanipur before BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari’s nomination filing, attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Following disruptions in law and order, the Election Commission intervened, leading to the suspension of four police officers and the swift reassignment of responsibilities in those areas.
