Kolkata, March 30: The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the transfer of a total of 184 inspector-rank police officers on Sunday evening amid the crucial assembly elections taking place in two phases in West Bengal. Among the transferred officers, 153 are associated with the West Bengal Police, while the remaining 31 are part of the Kolkata Police. Most of these officers have been assigned as inspector-in-charge or officer-in-charge of various police stations.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission also ordered the transfer of 83 block development officers (BDOs) and assistant returning officers (AROs) in West Bengal. Since the announcement of the voting schedule for the two phases on March 15, the commission has periodically issued transfer orders for bureaucrats and police officials at various levels. The transfer process began with top-ranking bureaucrats, such as the chief secretary and home secretary, as well as the director general and additional director generals of police.
In the second phase, transfers were made for mid-level officials in the bureaucracy, such as district magistrates, and in police administration, including deputy inspectors general, superintendents, and deputy commissioners. The third and final phase of transfers has now commenced for lower-level positions in the administrative hierarchy, which includes additional district magistrates, sub-divisional officers, and block development officers in general administration, as well as additional superintendents, deputy superintendents, assistant superintendents, assistant commissioners, and inspectors in police administration.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress leadership have previously accused the commission of resorting to such large-scale transfers of bureaucrats and police personnel at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Earlier this week, a public interest petition challenging the transfers ordered by the Election Commission was heard in the Calcutta High Court, although the verdict in the matter has been reserved.
The assembly elections in West Bengal are scheduled for April 23 and April 29, with voting for 152 assembly seats in the first phase and the remaining 142 seats in the second phase. The results will be announced on May 4.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.