Admn cites negligence of officials in ISI-suspect case

SNS, Siliguri, 14 July 2013: The probe, conducted by the Darjeeling district administration following the directive from the district magistrate after a suspected ISI operative had been mistakenly 'released' from the Darjeeling correctional home on 27 June, blamed the casual approach on the part of two senior officials of the correctional home for the lapse. 

The district magistrate, Mr Saumitra Mohan, ordered the Darjeeling sub-divisional officer (SDO), Mr Kaushik Nag to conduct the inquiry. 

The report, which has been submitted to the district magistrate, recommended departmental proceedings against the correctional home assistant controller, Mr Dhrubojit Chowdhury. 

It is learnt that the probe report has suggested a warning to be issued to the former correctional home superintendent Mr Subhobrata Chatterjee, for the lapse. 

Mr Mohan said he sent the report to the authority concerned. "I have received the report and sent it to the authority concerned," he said. 

According to sources, the report mentioned that Mr Chowdhury had committed such mistakes in the past too. Sources also said that Mr Chatterjee was made to account for lapses on a number of occasions. The report questioned as to why Dr Chatterjee had given important responsibilities to Mr Chowdhury despite the latter having had a record of mistakes. 

The report also highlighted several loopholes in the functioning of the correctional home. It is also learnt the correctional services officials, during a departmental investigation last month, had also found negligence on the part of the assistant controller. 

The additional inspector general, correctional services (north), Mr K K Mukherjee, conducted the departmental inquiry. The probe report was submitted to the inspector general of correctional services, Mr Ranbir Kumar. An accused in an ISI related case, Magan Bahadur Singh (54), claimed that he had been released ‘mysteriously’ from the correctional home. 

He had addressed a Press meet in Siliguri on 28 June and said he was about to surrender, as he felt, his ‘release’ was against the norms. Police took him into custody after the Press conference was over.