In less than two moths after he was removed by the Election Commission (EC) from the post of Kolkata Police Commissioner, the Mamata Banerjee government reinstated Rajeev Kumar on Saturday.
The EC removed Mr. Kumar and he was replaced by Soumen Mitra, the then Additional Director-General of Police of the Criminal Investigation Department on April 12 after allegations of “lack of neutrality” brought by the Opposition against him.
“Mr. Kumar has been reinstated as the Commissioner of Police of Kolkata and Mr. Mitra has been shifted to the post of Additional Director General of Police (Training),” Chief Secretary Basudeb Banerjee told The Hindu . Even as the Opposition praised the Kolkata Police of working “neutrally” during the Assembly polls in Kolkata, the Chief Minister minced no words as she accused the police of “terrorising” the voters.
At a party rally in Purba Medinipur last May, Ms. Banerjee warned them of “consequences” if she was voted back to power.
Mamata blames ECShe also held the EC responsible in this regard. Her remarks were severely criticised by the Opposition.
Mr. Kumar’s removal came soon after two officials of the Kolkata Police’s Special Branch were caught by the Bharatiya Janata Party workers while allegedly trying to conduct a sting operation on the party’s national secretary Rahul Sinha.
