Kolkata: The West Bengal government on Monday carried out one of the largest police reshuffles in recent years, transferring 179 officers, including 151 IPS officers and 28 WBPS officers, across various police units and departments.
According to a notification issued by the state Home and Hill Affairs Department, the transfers affect senior positions in the Kolkata Police Commissionerate, Special Task Force (STF), Intelligence Branch, Railways, Armed Police, and multiple district police units.
Major Changes in STF and Intelligence Branch
Several senior officers have been assigned key leadership roles:
- Rajesh Kumar Yadav appointed as Inspector General of Police (IGP), STF.
- Gaurav Sharma appointed as IGP, STF.
- Murlidhar Sharma appointed IGP, Intelligence Branch.
- Sudhir Kumar Neelakantam transferred from DIG, STF to IGP, CIF.
Major Appointments in Kolkata Police
The reshuffle has significantly altered the leadership structure of the Kolkata Police.
Senior-Level Appointments
- Kunal Aggarwal appointed Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime).
- Mukesh posted as IGP, Armed Police.
- Surya Pratap Yadav appointed Joint Commissioner (Traffic).
- Shubhankar Bhattacharya posted as DIG (Traffic).
Deputy Commissioner-Level Changes
- Ishani Pal appointed DC, South-West Division.
- Sayak Das appointed DC, North Division.
- Praveen Prakash appointed DC, Central Division.
- Shiba Prasad Patra appointed DC, Bhangar Division.
- Khandbale Umesh Ganpat appointed DC, Special Security Division (SSD).
- Y S Jagannathrao appointed DC, Detective Department.
- Subimal Pal appointed DC, Eastern Suburban Division.
New Leadership in Siliguri and Railway Police
- Syed Waquar Raza appointed Commissioner of Police, Siliguri.
- Joy Biswas posted as IGP, Railways.
- Saumya Roy appointed Senior Superintendent, Enforcement Branch.
District-Level Transfers
Several district police chiefs have also been reassigned:
New Superintendents of Police
- Chandra Sekhar Bardham appointed SP, Diamond Harbour Police District.
- K Sunny Raj appointed SP, Purulia.
Other Key Transfers
- Shubhendra Kumar moved from Baruipur Police District to Kolkata Police Wireless Branch.
- Parijat Biswas transferred from STF to Enforcement Branch.
- Amarnath K promoted and appointed DIG, Intelligence Bureau, North Bengal.
- Vaibhav Tiwari elevated as Joint Commissioner, Armed Police, Kolkata.
- Miss Pushpa transferred from Barasat Police District to Purba Bardhaman.
- Soumaditya Bhattacharya moved from Bankura to STF, Malda.
- Chinmoy Mittal also transferred as part of the reshuffle.
One of the Largest Police Reorganizations in Recent Years
The transfer of 179 officers is being viewed as one of the most extensive restructuring exercises undertaken by the West Bengal government in recent years.
The reshuffle spans multiple policing functions, including:
- Law and order management
- Criminal investigations
- Intelligence operations
- Traffic regulation
- Railway policing
- STF operations
- District administration
- Enforcement activities
- Armed police and security units
Officials believe the large-scale reorganization will strengthen leadership, improve coordination among various police wings, and enhance overall operational efficiency across the state.
Key Highlights
- Total officers transferred: 179
- IPS officers transferred: 151
- WBPS officers transferred: 28
- Major units affected: Kolkata Police, STF, Intelligence Branch, Railways, Armed Police, District Police
- District SP-level changes: Multiple districts affected
- Objective: Improve operational efficiency, strengthen security management, and enhance law enforcement capabilities
The transfer orders have come into effect immediately.
