In high-level reshuffle, 23 police officers transferred by West Bengal govt

The West Bengal government has carried out a major reshuffle in the police administration, transferring 23 IPS and West Bengal Police Service officers, including several senior officials, according to a notification issued by the Home and Hill Affairs Department.

The notification, dated September 25, said the transfers were made "in the interest of public service." The changes cover key positions in Kolkata Police, the state Intelligence Branch, and other police units.

Among the main changes, Special Task Force IGP Sudheer Kumar Neelakantam has been appointed Additional Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, replacing Devendra Prakash Singh.

Singh, who was serving as an additional police commissioner in Kolkata, has been transferred as Inspector General of the Intelligence Branch, North Bengal.

Bholanath Pandey, currently Deputy Inspector General of the Intelligence Branch, has been appointed Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Traffic), replacing Surya Pratap Yadav.

Yadav has been given charge as DIG of the state Intelligence Branch. Sukhen Hira, now DIG (Security) in West Bengal, will take over as Kolkata Police Joint Commissioner (Security).

Debarshi Dutta, DIG of the West Bengal Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, has been appointed Joint Commissioner of Police, Bidhannagar.

The notification also announced changes in the detective and cyber wings of Kolkata Police. Dhritiman Sarkar has been transferred as Superintendent of Police, Malda CID, while Arish Bilal has been posted as SP of West Bengal CID.

Soumyadip Bhattacharya, currently commanding officer of SAP 1st Battalion, has been appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyber-II, Kolkata.

Kolkata Enforcement Branch Deputy Commissioner Sparsha Nilangi has been transferred to the post of DCP, Detective Department, Kolkata.

The notification also named Quazi Samsuddin Ahamed as DCP of the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate's Detective Department, and Kuntal Banerjee as DCP, Barrackpore Police Commissionerate.

It said the orders will take effect from the dates on which the officers assume charge of their new posts.- Ends(With PTI inputs)