Kolkata (PTI): The Election Commission on Tuesday ordered the transfer of 19 senior police officers, including the ADGs for North and South Bengal, in another reshuffle ahead of the assembly elections in the state.

IPS officer Rajesh Kumar Singh was appointed the new ADG of South Bengal, while K Jayaraman was named the ADG of North Bengal. Both belonged to the 1997 batch, according to a statement.

New commissioners of police were appointed for Asansol-Durgapur, Howrah, Barrackpore and Chandannagar.

Superintendents of 12 districts were also changed in the latest reshuffle.

The elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in two phases, on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.

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Bengaluru: Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy has alleged that the Karnataka government announced its decision on the hijab issue out of fear of the ‘Karnataka Muslim Convention’ scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on May 16 organized by Federation of Karnataka Muslim Organisations.

Addressing a press conference at the JD(S) state office, GP Bhavan, in Bengaluru on Thursday, Kumaraswamy said he respects all religions and has expressed his views on the issue on several public platforms in the past.

Questioning the timing of the government’s move, he said the Congress has been in power for three years and had taken no decision on the hijab issue during that period.

He alleged that the decision was taken only because the ‘Karnataka Muslim Convention’ is scheduled to be held at Town Hall in Bengaluru on May 16.

“If the government had the courage, it should have taken this decision immediately after coming to power. Why did it remain silent for three years?” he asked.

Kumaraswamy accused the Congress of making the announcement to appease a particular community.

He further said the matter is still pending before the courts and claimed that an interim order relating to the hijab issue remains in force.

According to him, issuing such an order before the legal proceedings are concluded amounts to disrespect towards the judiciary.

Kumaraswamy also alleged that the Congress brought the issue back into focus after the Davanagere by-election results.