Kalighat OC suspended over ‘objectionable’ WhatsApp status ahead of Bengal poll results

Kolkata, May 2 (PTI) Kalighat police station officer-in-charge Gautam Das has been suspended over a controversial WhatsApp status, a senior Kolkata Police officer said on Saturday.
    Das has been replaced by Chameli Mukhopadhyay, he said. The development comes two days ahead of the counting of votes in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
    The action followed a complaint lodged with the Election Commission by the TMC, alleging that Das had posted an "objectionable" image on social media in violation of service rules.
    The ruling party had sought the EC’s intervention after its state vice-president, Joyprakash Majumdar, shared on X a photograph of the officer holding a firearm while being in uniform.
    The image reportedly carried the caption, "ready for new responsibility."
    Calling the post inappropriate, Majumdar said, "This image is not only uncomfortable but also objectionable in the eyes of the law. It clearly shows him pointing a modern firearm at someone."
    Majumdar further alleged that the post violated Kolkata Police’s social media guidelines as well as central government directives.
    "No police officer on duty is allowed to post pictures in uniform on social media. Posting threatening or provocative captions or images is strictly prohibited," he said.
    In his complaint, Majumdar also raised questions about whether the firearm seen in the image was officially allotted to the officer and whether he was authorised or trained to use it.
    "Such posts can be perceived as a threat to the general public," he added, demanding strict action and an inquiry.
    TMC sources said letters highlighting the issue were sent to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal, and Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nanda.
    The poll body had earlier transferred the Kalighat OC ahead of the second phase of polling and Das had taken charge barely a month ago after replacing Utpal Ghosh.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)