Kolkata: Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday directed Chief Secretary of West Bengal to suspend four police officials, including a Deputy Commissioner, for “law & order failure during the roadshow and nomination” in Bhabanipur Assembly Constituency and has ordered disciplinary action against them. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had participated in the roadshow.
In a letter to CS, ECI has cited the letter received from CEO-WB and “recommending suspension and disciplinary action DC-II, South Division (Kolkata Police) Siddartha Dutta, OC-Alipore Priyankar Chakraborty, Chandi Charan Banerjee, Additional OC- Alipore and Saurabh Chatterjee, Sergeant- Alipore.”
“The Commission has agreed to the proposal and directs suspension and disciplinary proceedings be initiated against them immediately,” ECI said in a letter. “The directions of the Commission to be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report in this regard be sent by 11:00 AM on 05.04.2026,” it said.
ECI has also “requested to furnish a proposal to fill up the resultant vacant posts of -II, South Division, Kolkata Police; OC, Alipore and Addl. OC, Alipore to the Commission.
Also Read | West Bengal Polls: Once Naxalism’s epicentre, Naxalbari is now a BJP stronghold
Meanwhile, a primary school teacher, who was assigned duties related to voter-related tasks for Sector 5 of the Barasat Circle, has been suspended by ECI. A video surfaced on a X handle, in which he was seen preparing campaign materials for a political party. Identifying the teacher in the video, the Trinamool Congress lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission. It was in the wake of this complaint the disciplinary action was taken, ECI said.NIA Probe
NIA continued its probe for the second day today, collecting video footage and also speaking to the people in the adjacent shops, and visiting local villages and enquiring about the timeline of events. The first preliminary investigation report that NIA is supposed to submit at the Supreme Court next week. NIA may interrogate the arrested persons who are in police custody presently. Local sources in Malda said that there were raids which were conducted midnight.
Also Read | Deleted voters race against deadline as offline appeal route falters in Kolkata
ECI approves auxiliary booths
ECI has approved creation of 4660 auxiliary polling stations, where the number of voters exceeded 1200 and approved shifting of 321 polling stations for the convenience of the voters. Total number of polling stations including auxiliary are now 85379 in West Bengal. Meanwhile, WB Police arrests accused Hafijul Molla Pradhan of Deuli I Gram Panchayat, Bedemari Bazar, Jibantala for hate speech.
Meanwhile, ECI today directed former Kolkata Commissioner of Police, Supratim Sarkar, to go on deputation as police observer in Tamil Nadu, which is also a poll-bound state, However, Sarkar has pleaded to the Commission for relief from this deputation citing medical grounds, sources informed.
