Election Commission Suspends Four Senior Kolkata Police Officers Over Amit Shah Roadshow Lapses
The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday took stringent action by suspending four senior Kolkata police officers, including a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), and ordering disciplinary proceedings against them. This decision stems from their failure to maintain law and order during a roadshow by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Bhowanipore on April 2.
Widespread Suspensions Under Model Code of Conduct
In the past fortnight since the model code of conduct (MCC) came into effect in West Bengal, the poll panel has suspended a total of 17 officials. This includes five police officers, two Block Development Officers (BDOs), and ten Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel, highlighting the EC's strict enforcement of electoral norms.
Details of the Suspended Officers
The suspensions target Siddartha Dutta (DCP-II, South Division), Priyankar Chakraborty (Officer-in-Charge, Alipore), Chandi Charan Banerjee (Additional OC, Alipore), and Saurabh Chatterjee (Sergeant, Alipore). These actions were made on the recommendation of Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal. The EC stated, "The commission has agreed to the proposal and directs that the aforementioned police officers be suspended and disciplinary proceedings be initiated against them immediately."
Background of the Bhowanipore Incident
On Thursday, during Shah's roadshow, which culminated in BJP's Suvendu Adhikari filing his nomination from Bhowanipore, tensions escalated near Kalighat, close to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence. Trinamool Congress workers assembled in large numbers and raised counter-slogans, leading to a volatile atmosphere. Police intervened to prevent a full-blown confrontation by forming human barricades to keep the two sides apart. Subsequently, the EC filed an FIR at Alipore police station, alleging MCC violations and noting that while BJP had obtained permission for its rally, Trinamool Congress had not.
Irony in Officer Appointments
Ironically, suspended police officer Priyankar Chakraborty had been appointed as the Alipore OC by the EC on March 29, the same day the poll panel changed 31 Kolkata Police OCs, including that of Bhowanipore police station. This highlights the dynamic and often contentious nature of electoral oversight.
Other Suspensions and Political Allegations
Among other Bengal government officers suspended earlier by the EC are Basanti police station inspector-in-charge Avijit Paul for failing to prevent poll violence, Hanskhali BDO Sayantan Bhattacharyya for violence during poll training, and Khandogosh joint BDO for alleged political canvassing. Additionally, ten central force personnel have been suspended—three in Suri for playing carom in a Trinamool party office and seven for attending an Iftar at the home of a Trinamool functionary in Murshidabad.
Political Parties Approach EC
BJP has twice approached the EC seeking the transfer of DCP Shantanu Sinha Biswas and demanded the removal of two other officers—Bijitaswa Routh and Rahul Amin Ali Shah—for allegedly canvassing for Trinamool Congress during the state conference of West Bengal Police Welfare Committee.
Trinamool Congress has also twice approached the poll panel, seeking the transfer of Bhowanipore election returning officer Surajit Roy. The party alleges he has a close association with Suvendu Adhikari, having previously served as BDO of Nandigram-II. They claim his appointment is "out of turn" and inconsistent with his seniority, and that despite the EC seeking a panel of three names for his replacement, Roy remains in his position.
Recent Police Transfers
On Saturday evening, the Kolkata Police commissioner replaced Hare Street OC Rajib Sahoo with Thakurpukur OC Lopsang Tshering Bhutia. Sahoo will take up charge in Thakurpukur. This move comes in the wake of disturbances outside the CEO office at Strand Road on April 1, indicating ongoing adjustments to maintain order during the election period.
