West Bengal clashes: Senior police officers in Rabindra Nagar transferred post-violence
Kolkata
Senior police officers at the Rabindra Nagar Police Station in the Maheshtala area have been transferred after communal clashes shook the area three days ago. Forty people were arrested after the clashes, and several police personnel and locals were injured during the violence on June 11.
Amidst rising criticism about the clashes from Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, officers Kamrujjaman Molla, Sub Divisional Police Officer, and Mukul Mia, Officer-in-Charge of Rabindra Nagar Police Station, were shifted to new posts. Government sources claimed that these were routine transfers and had no relation to the clashes.
Mr. Molla was shifted to the third battalion of the West Bengal Armed Police, and Mr. Mia was transferred to the Darjeeling district in North Bengal.
According to an official order on Friday (June 13), Sujan Kumar Roy, previously posted as the Circle Inspector in Ratua, Malda district, will now be the IC at Rabindra Nagar. Syed Rezaul Kabir, who previously served as the IC of Rajarhat Police Station under Bidhannagar City Police, will be the new SDPO.
The incident of violence occurred just metres away from Rabindra Nagar Police Station. However, police officials stated that the deployment at the time was insufficient to contain what they described as a 'frantic' mob. Many among the mob charged at the police and injured them. However, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has accused the police of 'inaction'.
On Saturday (June 14), Mr. Adhikari said that a lot of shops were looted, many locals were injured, and businesses were ruined in the clashes. 'IC Mukul Mia is complacent with the ruling party, even though he is a public servant. That is why the people affected in the clashes have refused to take compensation from the police who have failed to protect them,' Mr. Adhikari claimed.
He also said that 23 victims from the clash-affected areas of Rabindra Nagar have received compensation from the BJP leader.
BJP State President and Lok Sabha MP Sukanta Majumdar said that the transfer of the police officers was 'a blatant act of deception — a dirty attempt to deflect public outrage while shielding the real culprits.' He also called the police inactive and accused that the transfer was a 'drama' staged by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
West Bengal Police have consistently maintained that clashes were between two groups due to a dispute over setting up a stall and have asked people not to spread misinformation. However, Mr. Adhikari has alleged that the violence was 'communal' and shops of 'Hindus' were targeted. He moved court to get central forces deployed in the violence-hit area and sought Governor C.V. Ananda Bose's intervention.
The area is now under heavy police deployment. A large contingent of the Rapid Action Force is present as the locality still simmers in the aftermath of the clashes.
Only weeks earlier, in April, the State witnessed similar communal violence in Samserganj and Dhuliyan in Murshidabad district, which claimed three lives and left hundreds homeless.
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