Sudden Transfer and Rollback
During the recent assembly elections in Kolkata, a peculiar incident unfolded involving the transfer of an Officer-in-Charge (OC) with ties to the RG Kar case. The Election Commission initially issued
an order placing this individual, identified as Abhijit Mondal (formerly of Tala police station and currently on bail after his arrest by the CBI in RG Kar case), as the new OC of Parnashree police station. This decision, listed sixth on the EC's transfer list published on Sunday night, immediately drew significant attention and caused an uproar within administrative and electoral circles. The swiftness with which the order was reversed, within just two hours of its announcement, points to an inadvertent error or a quick reassessment of the situation. Sources within the commission indicated that Mondal's name was included on the list by mistake and that he would not be taking up the new post. Consequently, the incumbent OC of Parnashree, Satyaprakash Upadhyay, was instructed to continue in his role. This rapid turnaround underscored the sensitivity surrounding officials involved in ongoing investigations and the Election Commission's efforts to maintain impartiality and avoid potential controversies during the electoral process.
Widespread Administrative Confusion
The initial transfer order, which encompassed a total of 142 OCs and Inspectors across the state, with 31 specifically within Kolkata, created considerable bewilderment among administrative officials. Beyond the controversy surrounding the RG Kar case-linked OC, other appointments also led to confusion. For instance, Nirupam Nath was initially designated to head both Maniktala and Park Street police stations. However, this was quickly amended by the commission, which then directed him to solely take charge of Maniktala police station. The current OC of Park Street, Hirak Dalapati, who himself had been transferred by the state government only weeks prior, was asked to remain in his position. These adjustments meant that the final police commissioner's order, issued late Sunday night following the EC directive for new appointees to assume charge by Tuesday afternoon, effectively resulted in 29 transfers rather than the initially proposed 31. The situation highlighted the complex coordination required during large-scale personnel changes in sensitive times and the need for clear communication to avoid misinterpretations and operational disruptions.
Key Stations Affected
The reshuffling of personnel extended to several other pivotal police stations across Kolkata, significantly impacting law enforcement across various districts. In the southern part of the city, key stations like Kalighat, Bhowanipore, and Alipore saw changes in their leadership. Central Kolkata was not exempt, with Hare Street, Bowbazar, and Muchipara police stations also undergoing transfers, alongside Amherst Street in the northern region. Notably, the OCs of the often volatile areas of Bhangar and Polerhat were also changed, reflecting the importance of maintaining stable and competent leadership in these areas. The influx of new officers from the detective department was substantial, with nine such appointments made. These individuals, previously working in investigative roles, were reassigned to station command. The former OCs of these stations were redeployed to various departments, including the detective department, the Special Task Force (STF), and the traffic wing, indicating a broad realignment of police resources. Specific appointments included STF Inspector Soumitra Basu taking over Bhowanipore, Utpal Kumar Ghosh appointed as the new OC of Kalighat, and Subhadeep Chakraborty assuming charge at Amherst Street. Further appointments saw Priyankar Chakraborty at Alipore, Somnath Biswas at Ekbalpur, Fayaz Ahmed at Haridevpur, Prosenjit Dhar at Rajabagan, Dilip Sarkar at Garden Reach, Manoj Kumar Biswas at Narkeldanga, Tapas Mondal at Entally, and Sushanta Mondal from the detective department at Jorasanko police station.
