Virendra was today handed over charges of the new director-general of police in presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the Uttarkanya Secretariat here.
He replaces Surajit Kar Purkayastha, who retired from the post today. Purakayastha has been appointed as the advisor (security), a new post created to accommodate the IPS.
Virendra, was posted as the DG (security).
Both Purakayastha and Virendra were with the chief minister, who is currently on an administrative tour to the hills.
According to a senior government official, the chief minister was willing to use the vastly experienced Purkayastha in security-related issues.
Purkayastha was the first DGP in the state who was given an extension after his official retirement in 2016.
SN Gupta was made the new ADG CIF with additional charges of ADG, establishment while Ajay Kumar Nand, who was IGP Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) will be the new Director, security, replacing Gupta.