A dramatic confrontation between an IPS officer known as 'Singham' and a TMC candidate who calls himself 'Pushpa' unfolded in Falta, about 40 km from Kolkata, on Tuesday. The stage was set on Monday when DIG Ajay Pal Sharma, an 'encounter specialist' popularly called 'Singham' in his home state Uttar Pradesh, visited the residence of TMC candidate Jahangir Khan and warned his family 'to be cautious'.
The Face-Off
On Tuesday, the two nearly crossed paths. As Jahangir's convoy passed by, TMC workers raised slogans of 'Joy Bangla' and 'Go Back', apparently having spotted the UP cop. Jahangir appeared defiant, stating, 'If he is Singham, I am Pushpa. Jhukega nahi. In Sholay, we saw Jo darr gaya, woh mar gaya. In my dictionary, the word fear does not exist.'
Social Media Exchange
TMC MP Mahua Moitra shared archived videos on X showing a man grooving to music at what appeared to be a nightclub. She tagged the officer, calling him a 'Fair and Lovely babua'. 'Good to see you enjoying yourself... Hope your policing skills are better than your dancing skills,' she wrote. While a BJP worker said the post 'speaks of her taste', Sharma refused to comment.
Sharma's Presence
Several videos of the officer circulating on social media show him issuing stern warnings against mischief-mongering. On Tuesday morning, he was seen in a neighborhood near Jahangir's party office and returned to the area later in the day.
Allegations and Complaints
Jahangir accused the officer of acting above the law. 'He threatened my colleagues and my family. Is this the duty of a police observer? There is no EC rule that says a police observer can go and threaten people at their houses,' he said. A local resident, Monalisa Patra Das, has lodged a complaint against Sharma for allegedly intimidating women. BJP's Debjit Sarkar said the Election Commission would decide if Sharma's actions were appropriate. However, poll panel officials played down the incident.
