Mamata’s injuries: Poll panel suspends officers, appoints second police observer

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 14

After arriving at a conclusion that Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee sustained injuries in Nandigram on March 10 due to lapses on the part of those responsible for providing her security, the Election Commission (EC) on Sunday took a slew of measures, including appointment of retired IPS officer of Punjab cadre Anil Kumar Sharma as second special police observer and suspension of a number officers.   

Read also: Mamata leads TMC’s march on wheelchair, says injured tiger more dangerous

EC concludes injuries sustained by Mamata Banerjee not result of attack: Sources

The EC in an official order has asked the state government to remove IPS Vivek Sahay from the post of Director Security and be placed under suspension immediately. “The charges must be framed against him within a week for grossly failing in discharge of his primary duty as Director Security to protect the Z+ protectee,” the poll panel said in its order.

The EC has also authorised the West Bengal Chief Secretary (CS) to immediately post a suitable Director Security in consultation with the state DGP and the same be communicated to the Commission latest by 1 pm on March 15. It also asked the CS and the DGP to “identify within next three days the other proximate security personnel below Director Security”.

Beside the Commission has transferred Purba Medinipur District Magistrate (DM) Vibhu Goel and in his place Smita Pandey, an IAS officer of 2005 batch, has been posted. It also asked the state government that Goel should not be given any election related responsibility.

The SP of the district Pravin Prakash has also been placed under suspension and he has been replaced by 2009-batch IPS Sunil Kumar Yadav. The EC asked the state government to frame charges against Prakash for “major failure in security bandobast”.

“Chief Secretary shall ensure that the investigation of Nandigram PS Case number 97/21 dated 11-03-2021 is completed and consequential action is taken as per law in next 15 days. Report in this regard shall be sent to the Commission by 31st march 2021,” the poll panel said in its order.

For the purpose of full proof security of political leaders, the has said it would soon issue instructions separately to the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of all poll bound states/UTs to bring it to the notice of all Political Parties/candidates, for strict compliance of the security of the star campaigners as per the category of protection and local threat assessment “in accordance with extant rules/guidelines /SoPs”.

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