2nd cop reshuffle in 24 hours; EC 'playing game' to help BJP, says CM Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: Election Commission on Tuesday ordered yet another round of large-scale transfers of senior police officers in Bengal, shifting as many as 12 superintendents, four commissioners and the additional DGs in charge of north and south Bengal, prompting CM Mamata Banerjee to allege the poll panel was operating from the shadows to help BJP.

Alleging that the transfers, second within 24 hours, were aimed at helping BJP distribute cash and arms, the CM said, "I will tell BJP's commission that they are playing a brilliant game. Even before the issuance of election notification, they have removed key officials - from DGP to SPs, from chief secretary to police commissioner." With "experienced" officers gone, Banerjee wondered what would happen if a disaster struck.




'EC will be responsible for law & order breakdown'

CM Mamata Banerjee said, "The chief secretary, CP and others who are experienced and understand the ground situation have been removed. If there is any breakdown in law and order, the commission will be responsible... Is there an intention to incite unrest? Is there any plan to trigger something before Eid?"

Late on Sunday, EC had removed Nandini Chakravorty and JP Meena from the posts of chief secretary and home secretary, respectively. It was followed by an order on Monday morning, effecting a reshuffle among the police higher-ups. As part of the changes, EC removed Peeyush Pandey from the post of director-general of police and Supratim Sarkar from the post of Kolkata Police commissioner.

Within 24 hours, another round of overhaul followed. Indira Mukherjee has been replaced with Yeilwad Shrikant Jagannathrao as deputy commissioner (central) of Kolkata Police. Mukherjee had earned EC's ire for repeated protests by BLOs and others in front of the office of the chief electoral officer on NS Bose Road.

She used to brief the media on the probe into the rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar hospital in Aug 2024 and debunked rumours that were spreading via social media on the brutal crime.

The commissioners of four police commissionerates have been changed, too. Pranav Kumar is the new head of the Asansol-Durgapur commissionerate and Akhilesh Kumar Chaturvedi is the new commissioner of Howrah City Police. Amit Kumar Singh and Sunil Kumar Yadav are the new chiefs of the Barrackpore and Chandannagar commissionerates, respectively.

Dhritiman Sarkar has been replaced with Sachin as the police superintendent of Murshidabad. Sarkar had replaced Kumar Sunny Raj as the Murshidabad top cop following the unrest in Beldanga earlier this year. Surinder Singh is the new Jangipur SP, replacing Hossain Mehdi Rahman.

Alaknanda Bhowal is the new Basirhat SP, in the place of Arish Bilal. Anupam Singh has been named Malda SP. East Midnapur SP Parijat Biswas, who took charge a few days ago, has been replaced by Angshuman Saha. Palash Dhali has been replaced with Papiya Sultana as West Midnapur SP. Raj is the new Hooghly SP.

EC named Rajesh Kumar Singh as the ADG in charge of south Bengal and K. Jayaraman as the ADG of north Bengal.

"The directions of the commission are to be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report in respect of the joining of the above officers must be sent by 11 am on 18.03.2026," the EC directed the chief secretary on Tuesday.

The CM hit back, "EC is acting under BJP's instructions... This is Tughlaqi Raj. Even by changing officials overnight, BJP won't be able to achieve anything. Those who have been replaced are all efficient and competent officers. We are also aware of the track record of those who have been brought in."

She added, "Remember, every officer ultimately belongs to the system. Even after an election is declared, an elected govt remains in place."