Kolkata, June 2: The Kolkata Police has embarked on a series of reforms aimed at restoring its former reputation as the ‘Scotland Yard of the East.’ This initiative comes under the leadership of the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal, led by Suvendu Adhikari, following 15 years of governance by Mamata Banerjee‘s Trinamool Congress.
Despite facing numerous challenges over the years, including a tarnished image due to various incidents, the Kolkata Police is determined to regain its lost prestige. One of the most notable controversies was the mishandling of the RG Kar rape and murder case.
The new government has reopened the files related to this case after suspending three IPS officers, including the then Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal. The police faced severe criticism for failing to identify culprits involved in an offensive poster incident targeting Justice Rajshekhar Manta of the Calcutta High Court, which occurred after his rulings against the previous government.
Accusations also surfaced regarding the police sending plainclothes officers to intimidate critics of the former Trinamool Congress government. Additionally, the physical fitness of some officers, who were overweight, became a subject of ridicule.
To address these issues, the Kolkata Police has implemented strict disciplinary guidelines since the new cabinet took office on May 9. Historically, the Kolkata Police has been recognized for pioneering efforts in criminal forensics and establishing the world’s first fingerprint bureau, earning its nickname due to its efficient detective department.
A significant reform includes reinstating a dress code for police uniforms to prevent misuse of plainclothes officers for political purposes. A recent directive prohibits all police personnel from performing official duties in plain clothes, with exceptions for specific departments such as the Detective Department, Special Branch, Enforcement Branch, Special Task Force, and Cyber Crime Division. Officers from other departments must seek permission from superiors before appearing in plain clothes for official duties.
In a bid to rebuild public trust, the state government has also recalled senior IPS officers sidelined during the Trinamool Congress era. Two officers, Damayanti Sen and K. Jayaraman, known for their integrity, have been appointed as secretaries to two commissions led by retired High Court judges. These commissions will investigate allegations of institutional corruption and crimes against women during the previous government’s tenure.
During a recent administrative meeting in Diamond Harbour, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari emphasized the need to modernize the police force. He urged officers to focus on their physical fitness and announced plans to increase the police force by 20,000 personnel within the next six months to a year. Furthermore, he announced the dissolution of the West Bengal Police Welfare Board, previously managed by Shantanu Sinha Biswas, who is currently under investigation for alleged involvement in money laundering and illegal land grabbing.
This announcement follows the government’s decision to terminate a two-year service extension granted to Biswas after his arrest by Enforcement Directorate officials.
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