Nandigram Incident: IPS Officers Responsible For Mamata Banerjee's Security Suspended By EC

Vivek Sahay IPS, Director of Security, who was handling the protection detail for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram has been suspended by EC for failing to perform his duty.

Image Courtesy: PTI

Kolkata: IPS officer Vivek Sahay who was responsible for handling the security of Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee during the Nandigram rally where she got severely injured and alleged an attack on her has been suspended by the Election Commission.

Vivek Sahay IPS, Director Security shall be removed from the post of Director Security and be placed under suspension immediately. The charges must be framed against him within a week for grossly failing in the discharge of his primary duty as Director Security to protect the Z+ protectee," the Election Commission said, soon after declaring that the incident was an accident and not an attack.

In addition to that, EC suspended Purba Medinipur SP Pravin Prakash. "Charges shall be framed against him for a major failure of bandobast," the commission said. 

The election body also directed the West Bengal Chief Secretary to find out within three days other officers in charge of the Chief Minister's security who faulted in their duties and take action against them.

Mamata's Injury was not an attack: EC

 According to the report of two poll observers submitted to the EC on Saturday, the alleged attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram which led to her being injured was in fact an accident and not a planned attack.

The incident that happened at Birulia Bazar East Midnapore district's Nandigram on March 10 after the CM filed her nomination, had taken place "suddenly" even though a "conspiracy theory" was alleged, the report submitted by special observer Ajay Nayak and special police observer Vivek Dubey to West Bengal for the state election stated.

"The incident was not a planned attack but an accident. It had taken place suddenly", the source said quoting the report. "The suddenness of the incident led to it. There was no conspiracy behind the incident," it further states.

BJP raises questions on Mamata's injury

The West Bengal unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has written to the Election Commission, asking whether all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were followed during West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee’s treatment at Kolkata’s SSKM Hospital.

The BJP’s West Bengal unit in its letter to EC demanded that all information with regard to Mamata’s injury must be put out in public domain.

The saffron party, in its letter, alleged that Mamata Banerjee wants to take political mileage of the March 10 incident during which she sustained injuries. The saffron party has also demanded that all files with regard to her treatment at the SSKM Hospital must be disclosed.