The top name in the list of recipients of the Chief Minister’s Police Medal for outstanding service for the year 2021 is that of an IPS officer whom the Mamata Banerjee government had dumped five years ago -- Soumen Mitra, who is now Commissioner of Police, Calcutta.

The IPS officers selected for this year’s medal apart from Mitra are Peeyush Pandey, Additional Director-General of Police (correctional services) and D.P. Singh, Inspector General of Police (North Bengal).

In the commendable services category, seven other IPS officers have been selected. The awards would be handed out on Independence Day.

In the run up to the 2021 Assembly polls, the Election Commission had removed then city police chief Anuj Sharma and resurrected Mitra as the Election Commission higher-ups remembered his “impartial role” in the Assembly elections five years ago. At that time, Mitra had replaced another Mamata acolyte, Rajeev Kumar.

In between poll seasons of 2016 and 2021, Mitra, once a clear favourite of former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, seemed to have learnt the key lesson in survival under the current dispensation.

For five years, Mitra was stationed at Barrackpore as ADG (Training). During this time Mitra co-authored a book, "Under the Banyan Tree: The Forgotten Story of Barrackpore Park." A student of history and an avid sportsperson, Mitra’s MPhil dissertation traced the history of football in colonial- era Calcutta and is also available in the form of a book.

“He would have been sent on compulsory waiting (in 2016) had it not been for the former chief secretary Moloy Dey. He considered Mitra an able and upright officer and put in a strong word for him,” said a source.

On April 13, 2016, the Election Commission brought Mitra to Lalbazar to head the city police force. Mitra brought the rule of the law back in motion and ensured the Trinamul poll bullies were kept at bay and irrespective of the outcome, Calcuttans could turn out to vote.

That single-minded approach to his work, refusal to toe the ruling party’s line almost cost Mitra his career.

Mitra’s predecessor at the Lalbazar was Rajeev Kumar, a year his junior in the cadre. Those in the know of the things within Calcutta Police headquarters said Mitra and Kumar were rivals in their younger days in the Calcutta Police and later CID.

“Kumar often overstepped his jurisdiction and dealt with cases that Mitra and his team were handling. There was friction and unease. But the CPM government liked both the officers and managed the situation well,” said a source.

While in Opposition, Mamata was suspicious of Kumar, whom she suspected of using technical surveillance on her and her party leaders.

As chief minister, however, Mamata soon realised the advantage of having an officer of Kumar’s talent in her administration. She ignored seniority norms to get Kumar the top post in Lalbazar. During the 2016 Assembly polls, all the major Opposition parties complained against Kumar. With the model code of conduct in place, EC stepped in, and Kumar had to make an exit, though only for a short period.

Just before the 2021 Assembly polls were announced, the Mamata Banerjee government sprung a surprise when it announced Mitra would replace Anuj Sharma as the Calcutta Police chief.

Sources at the state administrative headquarters in Howrah said the seemingly impossible would not have happened without the intervention of another senior officer, former state police chief Surajit Kar Purakayastha with whom Mitra shares a close relationship.

“Mitra too has possibly realised that opposing the government would only derail his career. It would be sad for an officer of his calibre to be sent to some outpost,” said a senior official in the home department.

This time Mitra did not take any chances, stayed mindful of not ruffling Trinamul feathers. By the time the BJP realised the neutrality of the city police force was doubtful it already was too late.