KOLKATA: The Election Commission removed an officer on special duty (OSD) on Friday from West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s security detail. Asoke Chakraborty held the rank of a police superintendent in the Directorate of Security.
It is believed that Chakraborty’s removal is the result of the ongoing probe into security lapses that led to CM Banerjee — a Z-plus protectee — being injured in Nandigram on March 10.
The officer had served as the CM’s PSO for 10 years and 11 months. He always accompanied her when she stepped out of Kolkata. He was a PSO to Banerjee even when she was Union railway minister.
Chakraborty began his career with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and was later promoted to security commissioner. He was on deputation in Bengal and, after retirement from the railways, continued as an OSD. The EC has sought his immediate removal.
On March 15, the poll panel had ordered the removal of state director (security) Vivek Sahay and suspension of East Midnapore SP Pravin Prakash. It transferred district magistrate Vibhu Goel in connection with the incident. Gyanwant Singh was made the new director of security.