By IANS,
Kolkata : 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.