What Led to the OC's Removal After a Murder Near Mayor Firhad Hakim’s Residence?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- OC Dismissed: The officer-in-charge was removed following a brutal murder.
- Community Outrage: Residents are voicing concern over public safety.
- Police Response: Increased patrols and investigations are underway.
- Public Safety Concerns: The incident raises questions about night policing.
- Two Arrests Made: Authorities are pursuing further suspects.
Kolkata, Oct 26 (NationPress) The officer-in-charge of Chetla Police Station has been dismissed following the brutal murder of a man with a digging bar near the residence of Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim in south Kolkata, as confirmed by a senior state government official on Sunday. Amitabh Sarkhel, who previously served as the Additional OC of Alipore Police Station, has now taken over as the new OC of Chetla Police Station.
It is important to note that Sukhendu Mukherjee was the former OC of Chetla Police Station. Despite holding this position, he had already been promoted to Assistant Commissioner and was managing dual roles. Following this shocking incident late Saturday night, the state administration swiftly replaced him with a new officer for the station.
The horrific event occurred around 11:30 p.m. on a public road close to the Chetla 17A/17B bus stand, mere meters from the Mayor’s home. Initial police investigations revealed that the victim, identified as Ashok Paswan (42), was brutally attacked, with a digging bar forcibly inserted into his throat, resulting in his instant death. This murder in an affluent area, so close to the Mayor's residence, has raised alarming concerns about public safety and night-time policing in the locality.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma stated, “Police patrols are actively ongoing in the area. We have detained multiple individuals suspected of involvement in this incident, with two arrests confirmed. We are actively pursuing leads and investigating the full matter.”
Meanwhile, former ADG Nazrul Islam criticized the state police for neglecting evident anti-social activities in the area. “Simply changing the OC of the police station is not enough. Public trust in the police has been severely undermined. Continuous liquor parties are happening in this area, and such activities cannot occur on public roads. If the police are unaware, it reflects poorly on them,” he asserted.
This incident has sparked significant outrage among local residents, who claim that late-night drinking and related disturbances have become commonplace in the neighborhood. They hold the police accountable for ignoring repeated complaints.
So far, two individuals have been arrested, with further investigations ongoing.