3 OCs removed by ECI in Pandabeswar after CI, BDO transfers

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has removed the officers in-charge (OCs) of three police stations under the Pandabeswar Assembly constituency in West Burdwan district.

The constituency, considered high-profile, is witnessing a contest between BJP leader and former Asansol Municipal Corporation Mayor Jitendra Tiwari and Trinamul Congress (TMC) West Burdwan district president Narendranath Chakraborty.

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The transfer of the three OCs, barely 13 days ahead of the Assembly polls, has created a stir. Earlier, the ECI had removed the Circle Inspector (CI) overseeing Andal, Faridpur and Pandabeswar police stations, Inspector Pintu Mukherjee. Subsequently, Brishti Hajra, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Pandabeswar block, was also removed.

In a fresh notification issued yesterday, the ECI removed SI Shiladitya Banerjee, OC of Andal police station; SI Tanmay Roy, OC of Pandabeswar police station; and SI Lakshminarayan Dey, OC of Laudoha police station.

TMC leader V Sivadasan said the removals would have little impact on the party’s prospects. He alleged that the BJP was attempting to exert pressure on state officials engaged in poll duty through the ECI, but maintained that voters would continue to support the TMC.

BJP leader Jitendra Tiwari, however, said the ECI was taking necessary steps to ensure that the upcoming elections are free, fair and peaceful.

The Pandabeswar Assembly seat has often been linked to the influence of coal mafias, which are alleged to play a significant role during elections. The Pandaveswar-Faridpur area has, in the past, witnessed violence stemming from turf wars between rival groups.

The ECI had earlier also removed the Commissioner of Police of the Asansol–Durgapur Police Commissionerate, Sunil Kumar Choudhary, replacing him with IPS officer Dr Pranav Kumar.