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Election Commission Suspends Basanti Police Station Chief Over Poll-Clash Lapses

The poll body faulted the officer for not calling in central forces despite advance notice of rival events.

Overview

  • The Election Commission, which issued its order Friday, directed an immediate suspension and sought a compliance report by 9 p.m.
  • The panel said Inspector Avijit Paul failed to plan for rival events and did not call available Central Armed Police Forces to the spot.
  • The Basanti Bazar clash on Thursday left multiple party workers and seven policemen injured, with nine arrests reported by PTI.
  • Inspector Prabir Ghosh from the state Enforcement Branch was posted to lead Basanti police station.
  • TMC and BJP offered rival accounts of what set off the violence, including a BJP claim that remarks by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee triggered it, in a state where the election regulator often moves local officials to enforce order during polls.