Assam Assembly Polls: Election Commission Orders Transfer Of Five IPS Officers

In a directive issued today (March 16), the Election Commission instructed the Chief Secretary of Assam to implement the transfers with immediate effect, in an effort to strengthen the law-and-order arrangements ahead of the polls.

According to the order, the following officers have been posted as Senior Superintendents of Police (SSP) in different districts of the state: Somalin Shubhdarshini (IPS, 2019 batch) has been posted as SSP, Majuli; R. Sheetal Kumar (IPS, 2020 batch) has been posted as SSP, South Salmara; Anchal Chauhan (IPS, 2020 batch) has been posted as SSP, Sadiya; Sudhakar Singh (IPS, 2013 batch) has been posted as SSP, Chirang; and Mohan Lal Meena (IPS, 2016 batch) has been posted as SSP, Dhemaji.

The Commission directed the Assam government to ensure that the officers assume their new responsibilities immediately. It also sought a compliance report regarding the same. 

The directive added that officers who have been transferred should not be assigned to any election-related duties until the completion of the electoral process.

The directive is part of the EC’s efforts to ensure neutrality, efficient administration, and smooth conduct of the Assam Assembly elections.

Elections to the Assam Legislative Assembly will be held on April 9, covering all 126 constituencies across the state. The counting of votes and declaration of results are scheduled for May 4.

DEO Postings

Meanwhile, the Commission also directed the posting of district election officers (DEOs):

P Uday Praveen has been posted as the DEO, Kokrajhar. Srishti Singh has been posted as the DEO, Majuli. Kimnei Changsan (IAS, 2014) is the DEO, Baksa. Madhusudan Nath (IAS, 2014) has been posted as the DEO, Chirang, and Jay Vikas has been posted as the DEO, Udalguri.