Confusion over reports about removal of Kolkata police commissioner

Kolkata, March 30: Confusion prevailed in the political and media circles of Kolkata after reports about the removal of the city's police commissioner, Rajeev Kumar, broke.

Local news channels broke the news that Kumar was removed on the order of the Election Commission after the Opposition accused him of working under the influence of the ruling party.

Later, it was said that the report was not true. Government officials said that they had received no order on this issue. One media channel also apologised for the report. The BJP was supposed to hold a press conference on the issue but it later cancelled it since there was no formal official announecement.

Earlier, reports also said ADG, CID, Somen Mitra might replace Kumar. It was also said the names of Additional Commissioner Jayanta Basu and former commissioner Surajit Kar Purakayastha were also doing the rounds.

On Tuesday, the BJP moved the EC seeking Kumar's removal on grounds of snooping on politicians at the behest of those in power. The saffron party accused the Mamata Banerjee government of conducting sting operations on Opposition leaders as a retaliation against the recent Narada sting operation.

BJP delegates met Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and handed over a memorandum against the state government and Kumar.

The saffron party said two persons approached its former state chief Rahul Sinha and offered him money for a favour for cow smuggling across Bengal-Bangladesh border.

An FIR was lodged against the two personnel at the behest of Sinha.

Opposition leaders from the Left and Congress welcomed the move saying the EC's strict stand on the Assembly elections this year is praiseworthy.

Kumar took over as the Kolkata Police commissioner in January this year. Former commissioner Tushar Talukdar said it was a good move, adding that Kumar should have come clean on the issue.

Oneindia News