2000 cops likely to face transfer in Maharashtra before elections

At least 2000 officers serving from the rank of a sub-inspector till Additional Director General of Police is likely to face reshuffle in the state before the elections. The move will be made following guidelines issued by the Election Commission (EC) to the state government.

Speaking on the matter, an officer from the state police department said, "Recently Election Commission has issued guidelines stating that those officers who have completed three years in one unit (city or district) or are still in the same posting as they were in the last assembly or Lok Sabha elections should be transferred." He added that those officers working with side branches such as special branch, state intelligence department or traffic branch will not be affected in this transfer.

"Revenue and police departments are likely to get affected more in the wake of the EC guidelines. Following the EC guidelines we did an assessment in the police department and found that at least 2000 policemen would face transfers. This is a routine process. EC comes out with such guidelines before the elections. This is basically to ensure there is no vested interest and that it is a fair election process," said the officer.