IG Chakraborty suspended for lashing out at West Bengal Government

Kolkata, Feb 21 (ANI): Inspector General of Police Benoy Chakraborty, who was on deputation to Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) was suspended on Sunday for putting the blame on the West Bengal Government for the misuse of the paramilitary forces.

Addressing the media at Mednipur on Saturday, Chakraborty expressed his displeasure at the awful planning of security, which he claimed led to Maoist strike at an Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) security camp at Sealdah in West Midnapore district in which at least 24 security personnel were killed.

Chakraborty lashed out at his seniors and the establishment for the unprofessional manner of security set up in the state.

Chakraborty said, "The fact to be noted is that an important intelligence set up was created here in a most unprofessional manner in which 24 of our personnel gave their lives."

"This figure you could include 5 more personnel who were targeted later. Where this camp was set up happened to be the most unsuitable location," he added.

Chakraborty claimed on Saturday that in spite of his best efforts, all his prior warning messages were ignored.

"Well, I joined around one and half a month ago and personally I did surveillance and reconnaissance of almost all the camps and possible hideouts of the extremists in Bankura and Purulia regions. But all my efforts were in vain since the higher-ups never cared to evaluate my reports and act, said Chakraborty.

"The SP (Superintendent of Police) had no time to entertain my observations. So much so, the SP could not even find time to respond to RT (radio telephone) wireless message to reflect how unprofessional the top brass and echelons of the force to react are," he added.

He noted how this camp was set up ignoring all precautionary norms since there was a public latrine and a next-door colony with a high wall of five to seven feet.

As Chakraborty put it, there was no space to maneuver in case of any eventuality as such it could be deduced that the setting up of this camp was the height of unprofessional attitude in the police hierarchy. (ANI)