West Bengal: EC dismisses Murshidabad's DIG over 'lack of supervision' to prevent violence

In a major crackdown on poll violence, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday dismissed the DIG of West Bengal’s Murshidabad over his ‘failure’ to address the violent situation in the region and “lack of supervision” to immediately prevent more incidents.

Sources said that the ECI had taken note of two instances of violence in Murshidabad where weapons and explosives were used.

While visiting the state ahead of announcing the Lok Sabha poll dates, the polling body had said there would be zero tolerance for election violence and that responsibility would be fixed at “higher levels”.

Polling on 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal will be held in seven phases between April 19 to June 1. The state has a history of political violence in the elections and the panchayat polls held in 2023, about 50 people have lost their lives.

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Violence in Murshidabad 

During the Panchayat elections of 2023, Murshidabad saw widespread pre-poll violence that led to the death and injury of several party workers from BJP and Congress.

Clashes between Trinamool Congress and Congress resulted in the death of at least one party worker of the grand old party.

Meanwhile, four BJP workers were severely injured after being shot at by TMC workers.

Other EC transfers in West Bengal

In view of pre and post-poll violence in West Bengal, the ECI last month transferred West Bengal’s DGP Rajeev Kumar to ’non-political.’

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Kumar’s transfer, according to the commission, was part of its “efforts to maintain a level-playing field and ensure the integrity of the electoral process”.

Back in 2016, Kumar, a 1989-batch IPS officer, was removed by the EC from the post of Commissioner of Kolkata Police. He was reinstated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee soon after the Trinamool Congress returned to power.