Desk Correspondence , Kolkata - The Bengal police officials such as the DGP along with three senior officers were transferred by the EC a day after the Assembly poll schedule was announced. IPS officer Siddh Nath Gupta has been appointed as the new Director General of Police, replacing Peeyush Pandey. The EC also replaced Supratim Sarkar as the Commissioner of Kolkata Police and appointed Ajay Kumar Nand as his replacement. 

The committee also examined the preparedness ahead of the poll in the state. It also named Natarajan Ramesh Babu as Director General of Correctional Services. Additionally, Ajay Mukund Ranade has been appointed as Additional Director General and IGP (Law and Order). 

The Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in his press conference yesterday, had assured that elections in West Bengal would be violence-free and peaceful. In pursuance of this objective, ECI has appointed and transferred senior police officials in the state, including the DGP of state police and CP of Kolkata police,” said a senior ECI official. Siddh Nath Gupta, a 1992-batch IPS officer, will replace Peeyush Pandey as the new DGP of West Bengal. Ajay Kumar Nand will replace Supratim Sarker as the new commissioner of Kolkata Police. The EC has ordered the state government to implement these changes immediately, and submit a detailed report by 3 pm on Monday. They have also said that these newly appointed officers will not be given any election related duties. 

The elections are supposed to be held on o phase, on 23rd and 29th of April. With these changes the EC has ensured that elections will be conducted in civilised manner across the state.