The Election Commission (EC) suspended a police officer for the security lapse that led to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s injury during her election campaign in Nandigram this week, on Sunday 14th March 2021.
Along with him, the Commission also suspended the East Midnapore Superintendent of Police (SP), Mr. Pravin Prakash, and transferred District Magistrate, Mr. Vibhu Goyal to a non-election post. The EC has ordered that charges should be framed against Vivek Sahay, IPS, Director Security, for failing to discharge his duty of protecting a Z+ protectee, and against Prakash for “major failure of bandobast”.
While the state Chief Secretary has been authorised to find Sahay’s replacement, IPS officer Sunil Kumar of the 2009 batch will replace Prakash. Smita Pandey (IAS 2005) will be the new DM of East Midnapore.
In a press release, the EC stated, “A Committee of Chief Secretary and DGP shall identify within next three days the other proximate security personnel below Director Security, who failed in their duties to prevent the incident and protect the Z+ protectee VVIP and take suitable action for their failure.”
