The Election Commission of India (ECI) has suspended Hingalganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sandeep Sarkar in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district for negligence in duty. The order, issued Thursday night, directed his immediate removal and punitive action, with State Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala instructed to implement the Commission’s decision. The suspension comes just ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s public meeting in Hingalganj on Friday, and before the constituency goes to polls in the second phase on April 29.
The Commission has been reshuffling bureaucrats and IPS officers across West Bengal since the announcement of elections, removing several from their posts and barring them from election-related work. Hingalganj’s suspension is seen as part of efforts to tighten law and order and increase surveillance during polling. The second phase of voting will cover 142 constituencies on April 29, with results to be declared on May 4. The first phase saw an unprecedented turnout of nearly 93 per cent, with final tabulation awaited from the ECI.