IPS officer Manoj Kumar Verma has been appointed as the new Commissioner of Police (CP) for Kolkata following the removal of Vineet Kumar Goyal from the position on Tuesday.
The decision comes after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee agreed to the demands made by junior doctors protesting the recent rape and murder case at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
According to a notification from the Department of Home and Hill Affairs, Verma, previously the Additional Director General of Police (ADG) for Law and Order in West Bengal, will assume the role of CP in Kolkata from the date he takes charge, until further orders.
Former CP Vineet Kumar Goyal has been reassigned as the ADG and Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the Special Task Force in West Bengal.
In addition, the notification stated that Abhishek Gupta, the former Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for Kolkata’s North Division, has been transferred to the role of Circle Officer of the 2nd Battalion of the Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR). Dipak Sarkar will take over as the new DCP for the North Division.
Following her meeting with the protesting junior doctors, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that most of their demands had been met, including the removal of Kolkata CP Vineet Kumar Goyal and certain officials from the health department.
“Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal has expressed his willingness to resign,” said Banerjee while addressing the junior doctors on Tuesday.
She added that Goyal would officially hand over the responsibilities to the new CP at 4 pm on Tuesday, and her government had agreed to the junior doctors’ demands.
Banerjee also confirmed that Deputy Commissioner North, Abhishek Gupta, would be removed.
“We have listened to the junior doctors and decided to replace the Commissioner. He has voluntarily agreed to resign. In the health department, they requested the removal of three officials, and we have agreed to two. We have fulfilled 99 per cent of their demands. What more can we do? We have asked the doctors to return to work so that the public doesn’t suffer,” she said.
“We have accepted three of their four demands. DC North (Abhishek Gupta) will also be removed, and a decision on the new DC will be made tomorrow. Additionally, we will ensure the security of doctors,” she added.
