Kalighat fracas: 2 DCPs show-caused, FIR by EC

KOLKATA: After the FIR against two KMC councillors for the April 1 Form 6 stand-off at the EC office, the latter has lodged a fresh FIR for the April 2 face-off between Trinamool and BJP workers at Kalighat, with city police slapping show-cause notices on two DCPs in charge of security.

On Thursday, when Union home minister Amit Shah accompanied Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari to file his nomination for the Bhowanipore assembly constituency in a rally, Trinamool protesters shouted slogans, leading to a fracas when the workers came face to face.




Two Kolkata Police DCPs have been handed show-cause notices by Lalbazar. According to sources, Siddhartha Dutta, DC II (South) of Kolkata Police, and Manas Roy, DC 2 (Reserve Force), have been show-caused. They were responsible for security on Thursday.

Meanwhile, two FIRs were filed at the Alipore PS — one based on a formal complaint by the EC regarding a violation of the Model Code of Conduct, and another initiated by the police.

A third FIR was registered at the Kalighat PS suo motu by the police. These legal actions come as authorities begin reviewing multiple cross-complaints lodged by both the Trinamool and BJP. The EC FIR claimed that Trinamool congregation was illegal, as no prior permission had been taken.

Trinamool spokesperson Riju Dutta accused the EC of bias and incompetence. Dutta alleged that the EC was acting at the behest of the BJP by facilitating the entry of "outsiders" from Bihar and UP while unfairly targeting TMC protesters with legal action. BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar claimed the unrest was a sign of the TMC's waning influence.

A Trinamool delegation on Friday demanded that the Bhowanipore ERO be removed due to bias and an out-of-turn appointment to favour the BJP.

This comes after Hare Street PS registered FIRs against several individuals, including two councillors, Santi Ranjan Kundu (ward 32) and Sachin Singh (ward 36), regarding the April 1 fracas at its office.

A senior home dept official informed Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal that an action-taken report on the April 1 incident would be submitted on Sunday.

Both councillors face non-bailable charges and have been summoned for questioning in next three days. Both refuted the allegations.

"We were nowhere near the EC office. We maintained a safe 200-metre distance from the commission office. We condemn this highly politically motivated move," said Kundu.

Singh said: "We are public representatives and not hooligans. We went to the spot with the intention of protecting the interests of the voters. Whatever is happening regarding Form 6 is highly suspicious, and we need to be more vigilant to thwart any conspiracy."