Poll panel cites failure to maintain law and order in Bhabanipur amid BJP–TMC face-off
The Election Commission of India has directed the suspension of four Kolkata Police personnel and ordered disciplinary proceedings against them for allegedly failing to maintain law and order during Suvendu Adhikari’s nomination filing in the high-stakes Bhabanipur Assembly seat.
The directive follows a recommendation from the state’s Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal and was communicated to the West Bengal Chief Secretary.
Officers suspended, action ordered
The poll body ordered immediate suspension of Deputy Commissioner (DC-II), South Division, Siddhartha Dutta; Officer-in-Charge of Alipore Police Station, Priyankar Chakraborty; Additional OC Chandi Charan Banerjee; and Sergeant Saurabh Chatterjee.
“The commission has agreed to the proposal and directs that the aforementioned police officers be suspended and disciplinary proceedings be initiated against them immediately,” the communication stated.
The state government has been asked to submit a compliance report by 11 am on Monday and to urgently propose replacements for the vacant posts.
High-voltage nomination day turns tense
The incident took place on April 2 when Union Home Minister Amit Shah accompanied Adhikari during his nomination filing.
The BJP had organised a massive roadshow through Bhabanipur, widely seen as a stronghold of Mamata Banerjee.
Tensions escalated near Kalighat when supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the All India Trinamool Congress gathered in close proximity, raising slogans against each other.
Police struggle to control situation
For several minutes, rival groups stood face-to-face, leading to a volatile standoff. Police personnel formed a human barricade to prevent clashes and pushed supporters from both sides away from each other.
The confrontation caused traffic disruption and heightened tension in the area before the BJP convoy moved forward.
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