Mamata Banerjee injury: Director Security, SP suspended, DM removed over Nandigram incident
Kolkata, Mar 14: Director Security Vivek Sahay and Purba Medinipur's Superintendent of Police Pravin Prakash were suspended on Sunday over the incident in Nandigram in which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was injured, the Election Commission said.
District Magistrate Vibhu Goel was also removed over the incident and transferred to a non-election post, it said.
The decisions come following a meeting of the EC over the report submitted by West Bengal chief secretary and the joint report by special general observers Ajay Nayak and Vivek Dube over the incident that happened on March 10, an official statement said.
"After going through the reports the commission decided that Vivek Sahay IPS, Director Security shall be removed from the post of the Director Security and be placed under suspension immediately. The charges must be framed against him within a week for grossly failing in discharge of his primary duty as Director Security to protect the Z+ protectee," it said.
The chief secretary, in consultation with the director-general of police, is authorised to decide on the new Director Security immediately, the EC said.
"Smita Pandey be posted immediately as DM and DEO, Purba Medinipur in place of Vibhu Goel who shall be transferred to a non-election post. Pravin Prakash, SP Purba Medinipur shall also be placed under suspension immediately and charges shall be framed against him for major failure of bandobast," the statement said.
Sunil Kumar Yadav was made the new SP of Purba Medinipur.
"Chief Secretary shall ensure that the investigation of Nandigram Case is completed and consequential action is taken as per law in next 15 days. Report in this regard shall be sent to the Commission by 31st march 2021," the EC said.
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BJP leader Ravi using derogatory word against Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar is an 'offence': CM
Mandya (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday termed BJP MLC C T Ravi allegedly using a derogatory word against Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar as an "offence".
He also hit out at the BJP and questioned whether the party supports derogatory comments made against a woman.
Ravi allegedly used a derogatory word against Hebbalkar in the Legislative Council on Thursday, during an altercation between them, when the House was adjourned for a while.
"Will they (BJP) support derogatory comments made against a woman?...What they are saying is lies. Will anyone accept the mistake and that he has used a derogatory word against Laxmi Hebbalkar? Then why was he (Ravi) arrested? " Siddaramaiah said in response to a question about BJP staging a protest and Ravi denying allegations.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Normally women don't give false complaints about comments made against them...I don't know why C T Ravi used such a word...It is an offence."
Noting that Ravi had said that he had not used any derogatory word and the word used by him was "frustrate", Siddaramaiah said, "This seems to be an afterthought. I don't know, but Hebbalkar has clearly said that derogatory word was used against her and others too have heard it. Also, I'm told there is audio and video. I don't know."
To a question, Ravi claiming threat to his life and the government is responsible for it, he said, "All offenders say such things. If that is the case no one can be prosecuted."
Ravi was arrested on Thursday evening and taken into a police van from the premises of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.
Based on the complaint lodged by Hebbalkar, a case was registered against the BJP leader under sections 75 (sexual harassment) and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Ravi has accused the police of "violating" human rights, as he alleged that they took him on rounds the entire night to various places in the district, following his arrest.
Reacting to this, the CM said, "He was taken to Khanapur keeping his interest in mind, as, if he was in Belagavi (from where Hebbalkar hails) people might have indulged in disturbance."
