Calcutta, May 30: The state government today appointed former Calcutta police commissioner Surajit Kar Purkayastha as the director-general of Bengal police.

He will take charge from G.M.P. Reddy, who retires tomorrow.

IPS officer Raj Kanojia, who was the director-general (IB), was made the director-general (home guard), while incumbent D.P. Tarenia was appointed as the director-general of the state crime records bureau.

Kanojia will retain his additional charge of coastal security. He will report directly to the home secretary on matters related to coastal security.

C.V. Muralidhar, the director-general (armed police), was made the adviser of security and vigilance at WBSEDCL.

Sources in the home department said chief minister Mamata Banerjee wanted Kar Purkayastha to be made the director-general of Bengal police.

Kar Purkayastha, who had completed three years as Calcutta police commissioner, was transferred to the CID before the Assembly polls were declared.

"No field officer linked to the poll process stays in one post for more than three years. If the state government hadn't transferred him before the polls, the Election Commission would have," a Nabanna official said.