TMC workers accuse Balurghat police chief of working at behest of BJP

BALURGHAT: Accusing the district police chief of working at the behest of saffron leaders, a group of local Trinamool Congress leaders staged a demonstration before the office of the Superintendent of Police at Balurghat on Sunday. The leaders have also demanded immediate transfer of district police chief Nagendranath Tripathi.

The agitators alleged that the police have been harassing Trinamool workers on the basis of false charges being filed by the BJP. "BJP activists have been threatening us since the election dates were declared but surprisingly, our complaints against the accused BJP men have not been entertained by the police. We are helpless and have no option left but to show demonstration, demanding immediate transfer of the district police chief," said the agitators.

Outgoing Trinamool councillors of Balurghat civic body along with some party workers took part in the demonstration and raised slogans against Tripathi in the morning. The agitators had festoons and placards in hand, exhibiting their grudge against the police chief.

Questioning the neutrality of Tripathi, the agitators said the recent actions of police have been motivated and biased. "The police chief is behaving like a puppet of BJP. All of his recent decisions were taken at the behest of BJP leaders. On the basis of false charges lodged by the BJP, our workers are being summoned at any time and interrogated as if they are criminals. Therefore, we want immediate replacement of him," they said.

According to a source, the flex of Trinamool's Balurghat candidate Arpita Ghosh was found broken on the outskirts of Balurghat. Ghosh's head was missing from the flex as well. A complaint was lodged accordingly, but police have remained clueless regarding the culprits.