Fresh Bengal IPS reshuffle: 4 top officers shifted as 2026 election fever grips state

Kolkata: The West Bengal government on Thursday ordered the transfer of four high-ranking IPS officers, including three district police chiefs, in the latest administrative shake-up ahead of high-stakes Assembly elections.

According to the official notification, Umesh Ganpat Khandbahale, the Superintendent of Police (SP) for Alipurduar, has been reassigned as Senior Superintendent in the North Bengal unit of the state Intelligence Bureau. Arish Bilal, previously serving as Senior Superintendent within the Intelligence Branch, will take over as the new SP of the Basirhat Police District.

Bilal replaces Dr Hossain Mehedi Rehman, who has been moved to the post of SP for the Jangipur Police District. Completing the chain, Amit Kumar Shaw, the outgoing SP of Jangipur, has been named the new SP of Alipurduar.

Escalating Pre-Poll Reshuffles

The shifts follow a period of intense personnel movement within the state’s security apparatus. On February 15, the government reassigned six other senior officers across the ADG, IG, and SP ranks. This follows a larger wave of transfers on January 30 and 31, during which 23 IPS officers and three members of the West Bengal Police Service (WBPS) were relocated.

Beyond the senior ranks, administrative officials confirmed that 109 police inspectors have also been transferred within the past month.

Election Preparations

The frequency of these reassignments comes as West Bengal prepares for its 2026 Assembly elections, which are expected to take place in just a few months. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has already directed state governments to ensure that officers directly involved in election work are not stationed in their home districts or in locations where they have served for three of the last four years.

West Bengal’s current legislative term is set to conclude on May 7, 2026. The final voter lists for the state are scheduled for publication on February 28, with the formal election schedule expected from the ECI by mid-March.

With inputs from PTI