The Election Commission of India (ECI) suspended West Bengal’s Director Security from his post in connection with the major lapse of security that resulted in the alleged attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram.
“Vivek Sahay, IPS, Director Security, shall be removed from the post of the 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 Election Commission said soon after declaring the incident an accident and not attack.
Also suspending the SP and DM of East Medinipur, the ECI directed the Chief Secretary and DGP to identify security personnel who “failed in their duties” to protect the CM over the next three days.
The ECI stated, “Chief Secretary, in consultation with DGP, is authorized to post suitable Director Security immediately following the extant procedure. Posting order may be communicated to the Commission latest by 1300 hours on 15th March 2021.”
In a statement, the ECI also said, “A Committee of Chief Secretary and DGP shall identify within next three days the other proximate security personnel below Director Security, who failed in their duties to prevent the incident and protect the Z+ protectee VVIP and take suitable action for their failure under intimation to the Commission by 1700 hours on 17th March 2021.”
The Election Commission also said that Smita Pandey, 2005 batch IAS officer, be posted immediately as DM and DEO, Purba Medinipur in place of Vibhu Goel, who will be transferred to a non-election post.
SP Purba Medinipur Pravin Prakash will also be placed under suspension immediately and charges shall be framed against him for “major failure of bandobast”. “Mr Sunil Kumar Yadav, IPS: 2009 be posted immediately as SP Purba Medinipur in place of Mr Pravin Prakash, IPS. 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,” said a statement.
The Election Commission held a meeting to discuss reports submitted by the West Bengal Chief Secretary and the joint report submitted by Special General Observer Ajay Nayak and Special Police Observer Vivek Dube on the incident in Nandigram leading to CM Mamata Banerjee’s injuries on 10 March. In the light of the meeting, the ECI further directed, “Since the security of star campaigners becomes far more sensitive during the election period because of additional criticality due to possible proximity with large crowds and sensational impact of any such incidence on law and order across state, established SoPs, including advance detailed programme, necessary permissions to hold rallies or road shows, deployment, use of bullet proof vehicle, if required as per security category of protectee, deployment on pre-decided route(s), observance of provisions of The Motor Vehicle Act, etc. should be followed scrupulously. Any deviation from approved programme should only be permitted after necessary approval(s).”
The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, wrote to the Chief Electoral Officer in the state, demanding CM Mamata Banerjee’s treatment history at SSKM hospital to be made public.
“The alleged attack has been used to extract the maximum possible political mileage. The Election Commission of India in its report today has ruled out the possibility of any such attack. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) and its cadre have attempted to use the Chief Minister’s purported injury which seems self-inflicted in order to gain sympathy and cause violence in different parts of the state,” reads the letter from the BJP state unit.
The letter stated that TMC’s allegation on BJP regarding the attack is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. “It is necessary that truth be brought out before public so that staged incidents do not repeat to deceive the masses and manipulate their voting choices,” it added.
On 10 March, CM Banerjee had alleged that she was pushed by a few unidentified people during her election campaigning. Later, she was brought to Kolkata’s SSKM Hospital by road from Nandigram.
Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from 27 March, with the final round of voting taking place on 29 April. The counting of votes will take place on 2 May.
WITH AGENCY INPUTS