Election Commission removes West Bengal DGP and Kolkata Police commissioner

The Election Commission removed West Bengal DGP Peeyush Pandey and Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar a day after announcing the assembly poll schedule. Siddh Nath Gupta has been appointed the new DGP, while Ajay Kumar Nand becomes Kolkata Police commissioner

Kolkata: A day after the announcement of the West Bengal assembly poll schedule, the Election Commission on Monday removed DGP Peeyush Pandey and Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar, an official said.

The EC appointed senior IPS officer Siddh Nath Gupta as the director general of police, replacing Pandey.

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The poll panel also appointed Ajay Kumar Nand as the Kolkata Police commissioner, he said.

The EC said the decision to remove the officers was taken following a review of the poll preparedness in the state.

According to an official communication, the poll panel directed the state government to appoint Siddh Nath Gupta as Director General and Inspector General of Police (in-charge), while Natarajan Ramesh Babu has been named Director General of Correctional Services.

It also ordered the posting of Ajay Mukund Ranade as Additional Director General and IGP (Law and Order) and Ajay Kumar Nand as Commissioner of Kolkata Police.

The commission directed that the orders be implemented immediately and asked the state government to submit a compliance report by 3 pm on Monday, the official said.

The EC also said those transferred from their positions should not be posted in any election-related assignment till the completion of the polls.

The assembly polls will be held in the state on April 23 and 29, and votes will be counted on May 4.