Bengal protests after SSB-police showdown

The Centre-State friction reached a different level with the Bengal Government writing a strong letter to Delhi against Seema Suraksha Bal after its officials stormed a local police station and allegedly “snatched away” an arrested commanding officer of the central force arrested earlier on charges of shooting a person dead during an “unauthorized” raid in Prince Market at Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas.

“On the pretext of conversing with their arrested colleagues they literally attacked the inspector in-charge and other police men and snatched away their officials who were arrested earlier on charges for false raid and murder which they are not authorised to conduct without the intervention of the State police,” said a senior official in the State Government adding the strong letter was written at the behest of the Chief Minister who had taken the matter as a direct interference of the Centre in State’s subject.

“Strong action is being taken by the State Government,” said ADG Law and Order Anuj Sharma.