Policing paralysis in Birbhum evident much earlier: Officials

Nabanna corridors were abuzz with discussions on how promptness in 'preparing files' could have averted the murder and the carnage

The charred house where seven dead bodies were found on Tuesday morning. Picture by Pritam Das

Snehamoy Chakraborty, Pranesh Sarkar   |   TT  |  Bolpur(Birbhum)   |   23.03.22  : The Bengal government had identified that lack of coordination between police and civil administration in Birbhum was leading to many untoward incidents in the district, but the planned remedial measures could not be implemented on time, a source at Nabanna said on Tuesday.

Even as the ruling dispensation rubbished the Opposition narrative of administrative failure in the state, the Nabanna corridors were abuzz with discussions on how promptness in “preparing files” could have averted the murder of a ruling party leader and the subsequent carnage.

“It was planned that Shyam Singh, currently the DIG of the Midnapore range, would be made the DIG of Burdwan range only to ensure that the gap between the civil and police administration can be bridged. Singh was the SP of Birbhum and knows the district well. But the required file could not be submitted to the chief minister on time,” said a source.

According to sources, there was a clear inaction on the part of the police on the ground as the law enforcers did not send any patrolling team to Bogtui soon after Bhadu Sheikh, a Trinamul leader, was murdered on Monday night.

“This is a clear communication gap between the civil and the police administrations. The local police should have ascertained that there could be a trouble following the murder. At the same time, the civil administration should also have sensed the trouble as they maintain day-to-day contact with local people,” said a bureaucrat.

The lack of communication between the civil and the police administrations in Birbhum was also evident when the district authorities could not handle law and order problems in Deocha-Panchami, where the state government is trying to kick off a coal mine project.

“We came to know that the district magistrate and the police superintendent did not maintain a liaison which led to troubles.... It was planned at that time that Shaym Singh would be sent to Burdwan Range as DIG so that he can focus on Birbhum,” said a source.

None in the administration agreed to comment on this, but DGP Manoj Malaviya said the Rampurhat subdivisional police officer and the inspector-in-charge were removed after the incident, which many in the administration said was an admission of administrative failure.

Police officers at Bogtui on Tuesday.: Picture by Pritam Das

The DGP announced a special investigation team (SIT) to inquire into the incident.

“It could be deep-rooted personal enmity between two groups,” said Malaviya.

A senior IPS officer said after Bhadu was killed on Monday night, it was mandatory to deploy a large number of police personnel in the area to avoid further incidents of violence. But in reality, there was no proper police vigil which led to further troubles.

Bogtui is known as a troubled area in police maps over the past three decades.

“Managing Rampurhat means how you manage Bogtui. During my time, I used to send a patrol van everyday only to Bogtui. It is ridiculous why police did not take control of the crime scene at the earliest,” said a police officer who once served in Rampurhat.

The bungalow of the SDPO of Rampurhat is located at Bogtui and the incident happened within 600 meters of the officer’s residence. “The bungalow was constructed at Bogtui only to keep a vigil in the area,” said a source.

The role of the  police was suspicious when several houses were set on fire.

“A large number of people with bombs and petrol came to our village and started raiding our homes. They pushed at least seven people inside a concrete house. I ran through the field and saved my life. They even did not spare the little ones,” said Khusi Khatun, relative of the deceased.

“The police did nothing to save us,” she added.