Election Commission Orders Transfer Of 15 Officials

Kolkata: On Saturday, the Election Commission (EC) ordered the “immediate” transfer of 15 civil administration and police officials, including a District Magistrate (DM) and a Superintendent of Police (SP) to “further tighten” the law and order machinery in West Bengal ahead of the fourth and fifth phase of Assembly polls on April 25 and April 30 respectively.

The Commission said that it has ordered the transfer of P B Salim, District Magistrate of South 24-Parganas and SP of North 24-Parganas Tanmay Ray Chaudhuri with “immediate effect”. The Commission also ordered shunting out of six ‘Officers In-charge’ — one each in South 24 Parganas and Hooghly and two each in North 24 Parganas and Cooch Behar districts. It also removed seven inspectors In-charge — one each in South 24 Parganas and Howrah and five in North 24 Parganas districts.

The poll watchdog said the transfers have been ordered “in order to further tighten the law and order machinery for fourth and fifth phase of polling in West Bengal.”

The fourth phase of election to 49 constituencies will be held on April 25 while the fifth phase poll is on April 30 when 53 constituencies will go for elections.

The Commission has already shunted out Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar over allegations of bias towards the ruling party.

Meanwhile, among reports of sporadic violence, which killed one person and series of clashes between political rivals during which bombs were exploded, there was 79.22 percent voter turnout in the third phase of West Bengal Assembly elections involving 62 constituencies in four districts on Thursday.