Table of Contents
Breaking news : Mamata Banerjee has announced Manoj Kumar Verma as the new Commissioner of Police in Kolkata, as part of a major shake-up of state’s police officers’ structure. The decision comes a day after she met protesting junior doctors at her Kalighat residence in Kolkata. The move was finally cleared by a notification to the state government, PTI noted.
Breaking News : Vineet Kumar Goyal Transferred Amid Row
Manoj Kumar Verma takes over from former Kolkata CP Vineet Kumar Goyal, who has been sent to the Special Task Force (STF) as the Additional Director General (ADG). Goyal, during his tenure here as the top cop in the city, had attracted much flak due to the handling of a sensitive case involving the rape and murder of a doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. His removal from the position seems to be a direct response to the pressure brought forward by junior doctors and public outcry over the incident.
For many, Goyal’s transfer to the STF as ADG is seemingly a move to pacify the growing unrest within the medical fraternity and citizens at large. It is being perceived as an effort by the state government to dissipate the perceived incompetence on the issue of law and order in the city.
Who is Manoj Kumar Verma?
While Manoj Kumar Verma, IPS officer from the 1998 batch of the Indian Police Service, takes over his new posting as the Commissioner of Police in Kolkata, well-to-do socialites within the fair city are indeed in a spot of bother. The previous post was Additional Director General and Inspector General of Police under Law & Order in West Bengal. His experience in dealing with complex cases will be crucial once he assumes the role of the Kolkata Police chief.
Verma is known to possess remarkable administrative acumen and the ability to handle sensitive cases, and this makes him ideal candidature for the post at a time of crisis. The promotion to CP marks government’s confidence in his leadership to ensure regaining confidence in Kolkata’s law and order machinery.
Major Transfers in West Bengal Police
Besides appointment of Manoj Kumar Verma, the West Bengal government has also gone in for various other major transfers in the police department. Gyanwant Singh, who was the Director of Economic Offence Wing, has been shifted to the Intelligence Bureau (IB) as ADG and IGP. Meanwhile, Javed Shamim, who had earlier worked as ADG and IGP in the IB, has been posted as ADG (Law & Order) of West Bengal. Javed Shamim is an IPS officer from the 1995 batch; he brings a treasure trove of experience in maintaining law and order across the state in his new role.
Besides, Tripurari Atharv, who was ADG & IGP of the STF has been shifted as new director of the Economic Offence Wing. Other significant transfers include Abhishek Gupta, DC Kolkata North Division, and Dipak Sarkar, who was DC of Siliguri PC East. Gupta has been restagged as the Commanding Officer (CO) of 2nd Battalion Eastern Frontier Rifles, and Sarkar replaces Gupta as the DC of Kolkata North Division.
Response of Mamata Banerjee to the demands of junior doctors
This reshuffling of top police positions, particularly the ouster of Vineet Kumar Goyal, seems to be a direct offshoot of the demands of the protesting junior doctors in Kolkata. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee acknowledged the demands of the doctors and agreed to their request for resignation from the said role by Goyal. This came after days of protests following the tragic death of a junior doctor at RG Kar Hospital.
On September 16, Mamata Banerjee met the demands of the protesting doctors. She said Vineet Kumar Goyal had already gone and agreed to step down from his position as Commissioner of Kolkata Police. She also stated that the state government would appoint a new Commissioner on Tuesday. Banerjee said, “In view of the demand of junior doctors, Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal has said in the meeting that he is ready to resign. A new commissioner of Kolkata Police will be appointed on Tuesday. At 4 pm on Tuesday, Vineet will hand over the responsibility to the new CP.”
The decision was taken in the presence of 42 junior doctors who had signed the minutes of the meeting. Also present in the talk was the Chief Secretary of West Bengal, Manoj Pant. The agitating doctors had been stepping up protests in the days ahead of the reshuffling of the police force; their principal demand being Goyal’s resignation for the mishandling of the case of the death of the colleague doctor.
Talks Between Mamata Banerjee and Junior Doctors
This she did after a long meeting with a delegation of junior doctors at her Kalighat residence on September 16, the evening. The meeting, which began at 6:20 pm, went on for nearly three hours, to say that the issue was an urgent one and needed very sensitive handling. For, doctors had been agitating since the incident at RG Kar Hospital and demanded action and accountability from the state government.
The doctors were seen to leave Banerjee’s residence around 11:30 pm after the meeting, pointing out that a solution was reached. Goyal’s removal from his position was a major victory won for the junior doctors who had demanded that he resigned during the course of their many other demands for justice and better security in hospitals.
Future ahead: Challenges for the New Kolkata CP
Manoj Kumar Verma has a stiff challenge ahead as he takes over as the Commissioner of Kolkata Police. Public furore surrounding the RG Kar Hospital incident has put the law enforcement of the city under the microscope and how he restores public confidence will be one of his biggest challenges. Verma will have to tread a treacherous political terrain while ensuring that the police force delivers law and order in a city that has already been convulsed by protests and unrest.
In addition to focusing on short-term outcomes of the protesting, Verma has had to grapple with the larger issues related to crime, public safety, and better management of police resources. His experience in law and order management will be handy in such a scenario.
Watch closely would be the city as Verma sets the future of the Kolkata Police, and how the force reacts to the pressures both from the outside and within. The reshuffle of senior police officers in the state highlights government commitment towards addressing citizens’ concerns to have a strong responsive law enforcement system in West Bengal.