Lok Sabha elections 2019: EC transfers seven police officers in Bengal; 13 since polls were announced
Despite welcoming the EC’s step, Communist Party of India (Marxist) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty wondered of what use transfers done in the eleventh hour could be.
The Election Commission of India (EC) on Monday transferred seven police officers in Bengal, three of them in areas that will go to the polls in the third phase on Tuesday, bringing the total number of officers transferred in Bengal up to 13, since election dates were announced on March 10.
The letter of the poll panel addressed to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)identified those to be transferred as Saikat Roy, inspector-in charge (IC) of Raghunathganj police station, Uday Shankar Ghosh, IC of Farakka police station and Bidhan Haldar, assistant sub- inspector of Shamsherganj police station.
Raghunathganj is under the Jangipur Lok Sabha (LS) constituency, while Farakka and Shamsherganj are under the Malda South Lok Sabha (LS) seat, where polling will be held on Tuesday.
The other four named in the letter are Ajay Mondal of Baraboni police station, Rajshekhar Mukherjee of Andal Police (both in West Burdwan district), Krishnendu Ghosh, IC of Bijpur police station (in North 24 Parganas district) and Sukamal Kanti Das, sub-divisional police officer of Bishnupur (in Bankura district).
“The officers being transferred are not to be involved by the State Government in any election related duties. You are requested to ensure that they shall be relieved forthright, without waiting for the reliever, by handing over charge to the officer whom they report to. ” the letter said.
“We know that the measure is going to trigger resentment in the chief minister and her lieutenants. But the EC has taken the right decision for the sake of fair polls,” said BJP Bengal unit general secretary Sayantan Basu on Monday.
Despite welcoming the EC’s step, Communist Party of India (Marxist) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty wondered of what use transfers done in the eleventh hour could be.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her party leaders have criticised the transfer of police officers in the state, alleging that these were done at the behest of the party ruling at the centre.
On April 21, the EC transferred superintendent of Malda district police, Arnab Ghosh. On April 5, the poll panel transferred four officers, including Kolkata Police commissioner Anuj Sharma.
On April 8, the poll panel transferred the superintendent of police of Cooch Behar district too.