Kolkata: In one of the year’s biggest police reorganisations, the West Bengal government on Thursday transferred 40 police officers, including 21 IPS officers – 14 of them SP-rank and five Additional SP/SDPO-level – and 19 WBPS officers across key districts and commissionerates. The Home and Hill Affairs Department announced that all postings take immediate effect.
The reshuffle comes amid a political storm triggered by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who recently wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner alleging that several IPS officers were functioning in favour of the ruling Trinamool Congress.
Purba Medinipur SP Soumyadip Bhattacharya Removed After Adhikari’s Complaint
One of the most closely watched changes is the transfer of Soumyadip Bhattacharya, SP of Purba Medinipur, whom Suvendu Adhikari had accused of acting under political influence.
Bhattacharya has now been posted as SP, Bankura.
Notably, the post of SP, Purba Medinipur has been left vacant for now, heightening political speculation.
Key IPS Transfers at a Glance
DIG & SP-Level Postings
- Arijit Sinha, SP Jhargram (DIG rank) → DIG, Midnapore Range
- Manav Singla, DC New Town → SP, Jhargram
- Sachin, SS, IB → DC, New Town (Bidhannagar PC)
- Avijit Banerjee, SP Purulia → SP, Malda
- Vaibhav Tiwari, SP Bankura → SP, Purulia
- Soumyadip Bhattacharya, SP Purba Medinipur → SP, Bankura
- Pradeep Kumar Yadav, SP Malda → SP, Traffic, Uttar Dinajpur
North Bengal Districts Reshuffled
- Y. Raghuvamshi, SP Alipurduar → SP, Jalpaiguri
- Khandabahale Umesh Ganpat, SP Jalpaiguri → SP, Alipurduar
Intelligence Branch & Commissionerates
- Dhritiman Sarkar, SP Paschim Medinipur → SS, State Intelligence Branch (IB)
- Md. Sana Akhtar, SP Raiganj PD → DC (West Zone), Asansol–Durgapur PC
- Dr. Sonawane Kuldip Suresh, IB → SP, Raiganj Police District (earlier DC posting cancelled)
Other District Police Changes
- Palash Chandra Dhali, SP Baruipur PD → SP, Paschim Medinipur
- Shubhendra Kumar, Addl. SP (Rural) Purba Medinipur → SP, Baruipur PD
Additional SP-Level & WBPS Transfers
Along with senior IPS officers, the government reshuffled –
- 7 IPS officers in Additional SP/SDPO ranks
- 19 WBPS officers, including Additional SPs, SDPOs, Deputy SPs, Assistant and Deputy Commandants
This realignment impacts policing in multiple districts, police commissionerates, and the intelligence network.
Why the Political Heat?
The reshuffle coincides with Suvendu Adhikari accusing several IPS officers of being politically influenced.
In his letter to CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Adhikari claimed that –
- certain officers acted “as if they were TMC leaders,”
- the police machinery was being misused in Purba Medinipur and Nandigram, and
- a few officers were allegedly working at the behest of the political consultancy I-PAC.
TMC, meanwhile, has dismissed his allegations as “baseless and habitual”.
State Govt Says Reshuffle Is Routine
Despite the political backdrop, senior officials in the Home Department described the reshuffle as a routine administrative exercise undertaken for better law-and-order management.
With the movement of 40 officers – many in strategically important districts – the shake-up marks one of the most significant administrative decisions in recent months.
