EC removes DIG of Murshidabad; Mamata Banerjee accuses commission of 'taking orders from BJP'
- In Reports
- 04:22 PM, Apr 16, 2024
- Myind Staff
The Election Commission has directed the immediate removal of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Mukesh of Murshidabad and transferred the IPS officer to a non-election-related position.
Although the Election Commission did not specify the reason for transferring Mukesh, sources within the poll panel indicated that the decision was made following the violence in the district and his purported "failure to provide adequate supervision" to promptly prevent further such incidents.
According to sources, two violent incidents involving the use of weapons and explosives were reported in Murshidabad. An official from the Election Commission stated that the Commission had explicitly communicated to authorities in West Bengal that there would be zero tolerance for violence during the elections and that senior officials would be held accountable.
The Election Commission has instructed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal to provide the names of three individuals to replace Mukesh as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Murshidabad.
In a letter addressed to the state Chief Secretary BP Gopalika, the EC requested the submission of a panel of three eligible officers for the mentioned post to the Commission by the specified time.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responded to the EC’s decision by stating that the poll panel should bear responsibility in case of any riots in the area.
Accusing the EC of taking orders from the BJP, the chief minister stated, "Even today, the DIG of Murshidabad was changed solely based on BJP’s instructions. If riots erupt in Murshidabad and Malda, the EC will bear responsibility. Officers are being deliberately replaced by the BJP to incite violence, as per the EC's directives. The EC will be held accountable for any unrest, as they are responsible for maintaining law and order in the state," Mamata Banerjee asserted during her campaign in Alipurduar for TMC candidates.
Violence erupted in Murshidabad on Eid, with two groups reportedly hurling bombs at each other. Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former India cricketer Yusuf Pathan from TMC, and Gouri Shankar Ghosh of BJP are contesting in the constituency. Murshidabad, along with Malda Uttar, Malda South, and Jangipur, will vote in the third phase of elections on May 7.
Since the announcement of Lok Sabha election dates and the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, the Election Commission has removed West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar, along with four district magistrates: Bidhan Chandra Roy from Purba Bardhaman, Tanvir Afzal from Purba Medinipur, Purnendu Kumar from Birbhum, and Sunil Agarwala from Jhargram.
The Election Commission had previously removed two senior officers, Amit Roy Chowdhury, the additional chief electoral officer, and Rahul Nath, the joint chief electoral officer, from poll management duties in West Bengal.
Image source: Times of India
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