Why Was Bengal's Dyutiman Bhattacharya Transferred?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Dyutiman Bhattacharya has been transferred due to allegations of neighbor assault.
- The transfer was announced amidst public scrutiny and a viral video.
- No arrests have been made in the incidents involving firecrackers.
- New leadership in the district police is expected to address community concerns.
- The situation highlights issues of authority and accountability within law enforcement.
Kolkata, Oct 23 (NationPress) The government of West Bengal announced on Thursday the reassignment of Cooch Behar's district police superintendent, Dyutiman Bhattacharya, who faces allegations of physically assaulting his neighbors during the celebrations of Kali Puja and Diwali on Monday evening.
Reports indicate that Bhattacharya became upset due to the noise from firecrackers set off by his neighbors, which he claimed disturbed his pet dog. A video surfaced online showing Bhattacharya and several associates exiting his residence and attacking the neighbors.
In response, the state government issued a notification on Thursday, transferring Bhattacharya to a less prominent position as the commandant of the third battalion of the State Armed Police.
Sandeep Karra, currently serving as the deputy commissioner (west zone) of the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate in West Burdwan district, will replace Bhattacharya. The new deputy commissioner (west zone) will be Sonawane Kuldip Suresh, who is presently the special superintendent of the Intelligence Branch of West Bengal Police.
Although the state government described these transfers as standard procedure, sources within the state secretariat revealed that Bhattacharya's conduct during Kali Puja had brought disrepute to the state administration.
The viral video showed Bhattacharya wearing shorts and a vest while confronting his neighbors. Despite the evidence, Bhattacharya has consistently denied the allegations, claiming he merely objected to the noise from firecrackers.
Earlier on Thursday, an elderly woman reported that five men assaulted her after she protested against firecracker usage late at night. This incident occurred in the Bhawanipur area of south Kolkata during the early hours of Tuesday.
The woman claimed she approached the police the same day, but her complaint was not registered, as it was the night of Kali Puja, a time when firecracker usage is common. However, she returned to the police station on Thursday with legal counsel, and this time, an FIR was registered against the five individuals involved. No arrests have yet been made regarding this incident.
It was reported that Anupama Chowdhury, a resident of 4B Asutosh Mukherjee Road, stated that local youths were setting off firecrackers around 1:30 a.m. on Kali Puja, which exceeded the legally permitted hours for such activities.