Paramilitary officer could face suspension for ‘masked’ attack
February 21st, 2010 - 5:11 pm ICT by IANSKolkata, Feb 21 (IANS) A senior paramilitary officer who slammed the West Bengal government at a press meet after 24 of his troopers were killed in a Maoist attack could face suspension with the government set to initiate departmental proceedings against him.
Eastern Frontier Rifle (EFR) Special Inspector General Benoy Chakraborty had lashed out at the state government for “misusing” and “ill-treating” the EFR at a press meet Saturday which he addressed with his face covered.
Official sources said the decision to initiate departmental proceedings against Chakraborty for breaking service rules, which could lead to his suspension, has been taken at the highest level of the administration, but the paperwork was yet to start because of the weekend holidays.
In a sensational media conference at the EFR headquarters in West Midnapore district’s Salua Saturday, Chakraborty came down heavily on the authorities, and even the much lower ranked West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma, for not providing proper infrastructure.
Chakraborty said the decision to locate the EFR camp in a crowded area at Silda, the site of the daring Maoist attack, was “unprofessional”.
But apart from his outbursts, scenes of Chakraborty addressing reporters with his face and head covered with black cloth, and television channels beaming it across the country, raised questions about the force’s morale and angered the government.
“I am puzzled why he did it. Even (West Bengal) Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh held a media meet at Silda with his face totally visible,” a senior police officer said.
State Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta also led a ministerial delegation to the Salua camp in West Midnapore district Tuesday, braving the wrath of the kin of the troopers who died, and spoke to people without covering his face.
Families of EFR troopers, meanwhile, took out a silent procession at Salua against the move to start proceedings against Chakraborty.
Later, a representative of the protesters demanded that the government roll back its decision within 48 hours.
- Paramilitary officer asked to explain 'masked' press meet(Lead) - Feb 23, 2010
- Paramilitary officer asked to explain 'masked' presser - Feb 22, 2010
- Eastern Frontier Rifles officer 'masked' at media meet - Feb 21, 2010
- 'Eastern Frontier Rifles misused, ill-treated' - Feb 20, 2010
- Eight injured as rival Bengal security forces clash - Mar 02, 2012
- CIF shifted after clashes with EFR (Lead) - Mar 02, 2012
- CIF shifted following clashes with EFR - Mar 02, 2012
- CID starts fresh probe into Silda attack case - May 23, 2011
- West Bengal governor to visit slain troopers' families - Feb 25, 2010
- West Bengal accuses Maoists of disrupting normal life - Feb 16, 2010
- Police custody for Maoist leader linked to Silda attack - Feb 07, 2011
- IG Chakraborty suspended for lashing out at West Bengal Government - Feb 21, 2010
- Maoist couple surrenders at Bengal secretariat - Nov 17, 2011
- Buddhadeb threatens action against Trinamool - Feb 01, 2011
- Two Maoists arrested in Bengal (Lead) - Dec 17, 2010
Tags: asim, benoy, bhupinder singh, chakraborty, dasgupta, director general, eastern frontier, finance minister, maoist, midnapore district, ministerial delegation, police officer, proper infrastructure, silent procession, special inspector general, state finance, state government, television channels, west bengal government, wrath
