Why Bengal Police is trimming its local TMC leaders

West Bengal police have started trimming their officers and some lower-level Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders after the chief minister Mamata Banerjee publicly alleged that lower-level police and “political figures” were involved in smuggling coal, sand, cement and stone within the country.

The police initiated action the very next day Mamata’s statement On November 21, the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate suspended Sub-Inspector Manoranjan Mondal, Station House Officer of Barabani Police Station in Paschim Bardhaman District. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested two local TMC leaders on charges of iron smuggling – Rintu Panja, the party’s vice president in Durgapur, Block No. 3; and Aurobindo Nandy, former councilor.

Mondal, who was transferred to another police station, was suspended before he could take up his new duties. He was suspended on the orders of Asansol Police Commissioner Sunil Kumar Chowdhury. A departmental investigation was launched against him for “unprofessional conduct and neglect of duty.” During a departmental investigation, the officer receives half his salary.

At a press conference on November 21, Mamata sharply criticized the police in the presence of Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar. She announced a reshuffle in the CID, strengthening the Special Task Force (STF) and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), and stated that many police officers and politicians were involved in corruption.

“Some lower-level officials who do not like this government, including some policemen, take money and allow sand, coal, cement and stones to be stolen… Why is the land department standing idly by? I asked them to announce tenders for sand and stone extraction. When it comes to coal, CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) takes money and allows it to be stolen,” Mamata accused.

The Prime Minister asked the police to catch every political person involved in this scandal, regardless of their affiliation. “The law must apply to everyone, without discrimination. Take action according to the law. I will not save anyone involved in corruption,” she assured.

While many TMC members believe that this was a necessary step to rid the party of corrupt elements, the opposition called it nonsense. Sukanta Majumdar, Union minister and Bengal BJP president, alleged that the government had made a scapegoat of suspended sub-inspector Mondal.

Former Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Mamata was trying to cheat people.

While some see all this as an attempt to rebrand the ruling party in the wake of the public outcry following the RG Kar medical college and hospital rape and murder case, Mamata has been known to issue statements and decisions from time to time to make it clear that ​Her government has zero tolerance for institutional corruption. The practice has gained popularity since many TMC ministers and leaders were arrested or charged with corruption by central investigative agencies.

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