New Delhi (06.06.2021): Immediately after assuming office for the third time West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a major IPS reshuffle that included 29 senior officials mostly those who were sacked by the Election Commission ahead of state assembly polls.

In a smart response to the post-poll violence Mamta Banerjee did not forget to underline that “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,”.

Justifying her stand she reinstated three senior most IPS officers in the to their former positions including DGP Virendra; ADG (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim; and DG Security Vivek Sahay.

EC had replaced Virendra with Neeraj Nayan Pandey as State DG). Didi’s administration re-located Pandey to his earlier position i.e. DG (Fire Services).

Similarly, ADG (Law and Order) Jagmohan was transferred to the Civil Defence and Jawed Shamim who was removed by EC alleging police excess during a left rally at Nabanna. Didi’s administration reappointed Jawed as the ADG (Law and Order).

Vivek Sahay, the then DG Security, was removed by the EC alleging a security lapse CM’s security when she was injured in a rally in Purba Medinipur district. Sahay was restored to his previous position i.e. DG Security.

ADG Security Gyanwant Singh not only retained his post but also got the additional responsibility of ADG and IGP of Armed Police in the fresh reshuffle.

Sanjay Singh, officer-on-compulsory-waiting, posted as ADG and IG of the Western range.

Monoj Verma was brought back as the commissioner of Barackpore Commissionerate. The poll-panel had transferred Verma from Barackpore and had made him IG of Counter Insurgency Force.

Similarly, Mitesh Jain who was made the commissioner of Asansol-Durgapur was 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, Commissioner of Chanadannagar, was transferred as Siliguri Commissioner. Arnab Ghosh, presently member secretary of West Bengal Police Reform Board, replaces Sharma as Commissioner of Chanadannagar. DIG, Barasat range Mukesh was put under compulsory waiting.

Further, the SPs of 16 districts were reshuffled 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 some officers were shunted by the commission during the election.

Bhola Nath Pandey, whom EC had transferred following the attack on BJP President JP Nadda in Diamond Harbour was posted as SP of Alipurduar.

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