Govt transfers 27 police officers of IC and CI levels across Bengal before elections

In a massive administrative overhaul just hours before the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the 2026 Assembly poll schedule, the West Bengal government ordered the transfer of police officers across 27 key positions. This preemptive move by Nabanna is seen as a strategic step to reorganize the law enforcement machinery before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) takes effect. The reshuffle primarily targets the Inspector-in-Charge (IC) and Circle Inspector (CI) levels, which are crucial for maintaining ground-level security during the high-stakes election period.

The notification outlines significant changes within major urban clusters, including the Bidhannagar, Barrackpore, and Chandannagar Police Commissionerates. In addition to these urban centers, the rural and industrial belts have also seen shifts, with new officers being posted to sensitive zones such as Paschim Medinipur and Diamond Harbour. Notably, the Inspector of Rampurhat Police Station, an area frequently in the political spotlight, has also been moved, signaling the government's intent to refresh the local administration in volatile regions.

Beyond the district police stations, the shake-up has extended to the state’s specialized wings, including the State Intelligence Department, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Several inspectors within these elite units have been reassigned, ensuring a complete rotation of personnel in intelligence gathering and investigation roles. This broad-spectrum reshuffle is a standard administrative practice aimed at ensuring "neutrality" and preventing long-term local influence from affecting the poll process.