Police Officer Seen Kicking Protester Assigned to Investigate Job Loss Protests in Kasba, Kolkata

Synopsis

In a controversial decision, a police officer recorded kicking a protester during a demonstration has been assigned to investigate the very protests he was part of. This decision has angered job-losers from West Bengal government schools, as accusations of misconduct against the police remain unaddressed.

Key Takeaways

A police officer involved in a protest incident is tasked with investigating it.
The decision has caused outrage among job-losers in West Bengal.
Protesters were demanding action against corruption in job appointments.
Multiple injuries were reported during police action against protesters.
Two FIRs have been filed against the demonstrators.

Kolkata, April 11 (NationPress) Just before the vital meeting with state Education Minister Bratya Basu and the job-losers of West Bengal government schools on Friday afternoon, a decision made by the Kolkata Police has sparked outrage among them.

An officer from Kasba Police Station, who was seen in media footage kicking a job loser during a protest in front of the office of the District Inspector of Schools at Kasba in Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon, has been assigned by higher authorities to conduct the investigation into the protesting job losers.

The officer in question is Riton Das. On Wednesday afternoon, the police executed a significant lathi-charge on job losers who were demanding immediate action from the state government to differentiate between the "genuine" candidates and the "tainted" ones who secured jobs through monetary transactions.

During this police action, numerous protesters sustained serious injuries from police batons. Amid the chaos, Das was caught on camera by several media personnel kicking a protester, and that image quickly went viral on social media.

"This decision clearly indicates the nature of the investigation that will take place. Following the police assault on us on Wednesday, the administration claimed there was only mild police action. Now, an officer who was seen kicking a protester is appointed to investigate the same incident," remarked a protesting teacher.

Opposition leaders have also accused the state administration of routinely assigning the implicated officer to investigate the incident in which he was involved.

BJP leader and municipal councillor Sajal Ghosh stated, "Rather than initiating departmental proceedings against the aforementioned officer, he has been given the responsibility to conduct the investigation."

Two FIRs have already been filed against the protesters; one was registered by the police on their own accord, while the second was based on a complaint from the office of the District Inspector of Schools at Kasba.