Director security IPS Vivek Sahay & SP Purba Medinipore suspended for major failure of 'bandobast'

Kolkata, March 15: The Election Commission of India (ECI), discussing the reports submitted by the West Bengal government on the Incident at Nandigram leading to injury to TMC's Mamata Banerjee on March 10, suspended Director Security- Vivek Sahay, IPS for grossly failing in discharge of his primary duty as Director Security to protect the Z+ protectee. The ECI also suspended Pravin Prakash, IPS for major failure of bandobast.

 

 

With this, the Chief Secretary, in consultation with DGP, is ordered to post suitable Director Security immediately following the extant procedure. "Posting order may be communicated to the Commission latest by 1300 hours on 15th March 2021", the ECI noted in a statement.

 

 

Commission further directed that since the security of star campaigners further becomes far more sensitive during the election period because of additional criticality due to possible proximity with large crowds and sensational impact of any such incidence on law and order across state, established SoPs, including advance detailed programme, necessary permissions to hold rallies or road shows, deployment, use of bullet proof vehicle should be followed scrupulously. Any deviation from approved programme should only be permitted after necessary approval.

 

 

 

 

 

With respect to the above, Commission also decided to issue Instructions separately to the CEOs of all poll bound states and UTs to bring it to the notice of all Political Parties, candidates, for strict compliance of the security of the star campaigners as per the category of protection and local threat assessment in accordance with extant rules, guidelines, SoPs.

 

 

In addition, Election Commission of India has also appointed Former DGP Intelligence Punjab, Anil Kumar Sharma (Retd. IPS 1984 Punjab Cadre) as Special Police Observer for the General Elections to Legislative Assembly of West Bengal. As Special Police Observer, A K Sharma would be the second Special Police Observer, in addition to Vivek Dube, to observe the conduct of elections in West Bengal.

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