After key officers of Kolkata and Howrah police were transferred, BJP West Bengal president Sukanta Majumder alleged that the transfer of key Kolkata and Howrah police officials was due to “pressure from unknown forces”, targeting the ruling party Trinamool Congress.
State government sources, however, claimed that the transfers on Wednesday were “routine”. “BJP sees politics in everything. Transfers are administrative decisions and I do not want to comment on that. But I must (the BJP) is trying to do cheap politics by saying all this. People of Bengal don’t pay much heed to what they say,” said Kunal Ghosh, TMC spokesperson and general secretary.
Kolkata and West Bengal police are under pressure from both the Opposition and a section of TMC leaders, MPs, and ministers after Bihar-based miscreants attempted to kill a councillor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation in the city.
On Wednesday, officers of Kolkata and Howrah were transferred. Murlidhar, the additional police commissioner of Kolkata police, was transferred to the role of inspector general of the Swami Vivekananda State Police Academy in Barrackpore. He was replaced by Pranav Kumar.
Swati Bhangalia, police superintendent of Howrah (Rural), was transferred to the cyber cell and replaced by Subimal Paul, who was deputy commissioner (Central) of the Howrah police Commissionerate.
Biswajit Mahato, deputy commissioner (South) of the Howrah Police Commissionerate was transferred to the position of deputy commissioner (Central).
Surinder Singh, SS IB, has been transferred to the DC South Howrah Police Commissionerate.
Both Murlidhar and Swati Bhangalia held key posts in Kolkata and Howrah.
“It became clear that the Kolkata Police had crossed all limits of loyalty towards Mamata Banerjee during the investigation at R G Kar Medical College. After this, the Trinamool Congress-controlled police faced severe criticism for failing to provide adequate security to the party’s leaders and councillors. Following pressure from unseen forces, several officials were transferred today,” wrote Sukanta Majumder, who is also the union MoS for the development of northeastern regions, on X Thursday night.
“Yet, Mamata Banerjee, known for her appeasement politics, remains silent when innocent Hindus in the state suffer unprovoked attacks in places like Beldanga, Shyampur, or Rajabazar. Is this what democracy looks like? When the police fail to shield the ruling party’s wrongdoers, action is taken immediately. But the Chief Minister shows no concern for the plight of Bengali Hindus facing atrocities,” he added.
