ECI Suspends Basanti Police Officer Over BJP-TMC Clashes
ECI Suspends Basanti Police Officer Over BJP-TMC Clashes
Election Commission suspends Basanti police inspector-in-charge for alleged negligence during BJP-TMC clashes, launching departmental action.
In a first major move of this election season in West Bengal, the Election Commission on Friday, March 27, 2026, ordered the immediate suspension of Basanti Police Station Inspector-in-Charge Avijit Paul for allegedly failing to tackle BJP-Trinamool Congress clashes at Basanti Bazar on March 26. The Commission described it as "serious negligence and dereliction of duty" on his part.
The notice also highlighted that the officer did not deploy central forces despite their availability and did not requisition CAPF for maintaining law and order, even though CAPF had been available for the last few days. Nine people have been arrested so far for their alleged involvement in the clashes.
The ECI replaced Paul with Inspector Prabir Ghosh of the Enforcement Branch, and the Chief Secretary was asked to ensure immediate compliance and submit a report. The move underscores the Commission’s emphasis on accountability and preparedness for election-related tensions as West Bengal moves through the campaign period.
This action signals a firmer stance on maintaining order during political protests and could influence how regional police handle similar situations in future election rallies.
