Bengal DGP Virendra transferred, Niraj Nayan given charge

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday directed the West Bengal government to replace state police chief Virendra with immediate effect. West Bengal is headed towards an eight-phased Assembly election starting March 27. In a letter to West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, the Election Commission said IPS officer P Nirajnayan should be posted as Director General (DGP) and IGP of West Bengal in place of Virendra "with immediate effect". A 1987 batch IPS officer of West Bengal cadre, P Nirajnayan was earlier posted as DG & IGP (Administration) of West Bengal.

The letter added, "Virendra should not be given any post which directly or indirectly relates to conduct of the election". In addition, the EC said the decision was taken after review the situation. This is the second high profile transfer of a senior IPS officer in Bengal ahead of the polls. Javed Shamim, ADG Law and Order, was transferred by the EC on February 27.  Shamim was appointed DG fire services. The serving DG fire services  Jagmohan replaced him. An IPS officer of the 1985 batch, Virendra took over as DG & IGP of West Bengal Police on May 31, 2018.

Sougata Roy, Trinamool MP, said, "The DG was a very good officer. His removal is unfortunate. It seems to us that the Election Commission is doing everything that the BJP wants it to do. It doesn't matter we are winning this election". BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya said the move was important as the Bengal Police was politically motivated.  "We have suffered at the hands of the Bengal police which does not register FIR. The mother of a party worker has been passed off as suicides. Perhaps we will now get some justice." Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary of the Congress said,  "We also had complaint to Election Commission about the Bengal police. We are happy to see action being taken to ensure free and fair polling".