The West Bengal government on Monday in Kolkata issued a show cause notice to special IG of Eastern Frontier Rifles Benoy Krishna Chakraborty, who had openly criticised the police administration for the Maoist attack on the EFR camp at Silda, for violating service rules.
"The Special IG of EFR Benoy Krishna Chakraborty has been issued show cause notice and the reply is expected today itself," chief secretary Asok Mohan Chakraborty told reporters here, adding that a departmental inquiry would also follow before taking any action against the official.
"Without this inquiry, no action can be taken," he said.
Replying to a query, Chakraborty said action would be taken as per government rules. "I can't say if the government decision will be popular or not," he said.
State Armed Force DGP Partha Bhattacharya said explanation had been sought from the Special EFR IG.
Benoy Krishna came under fire after he at a press conference on Saturday had held the police administration, particularly West Midnapore SP Manoj Verma, "fully responsible" for the February 15 Maoist raid on the EFR camp at Silda in the district, which left 24 jawans dead.
The officer had also fired a salvo against the administration for "systematically" ignoring EFR personnel and "treating them as beasts".
Benoy Krishna had said the EFR camp at Silda was set up unprofessionally at a crowded place making it extremely difficult for the security personnel to function.
Over the years, the basic needs of EFR personnel were overlooked and they were inhumanly treated by the authorities. There was also total lack of security at the EFR camp, he had said.
He had defended his men saying that authorities did not visit camps like the one at Silda. No sympathy was shown to the EFR personnel, while their role was criticised during the Maoist attack.
He had said that the attention of the state government and the SP had been drawn to the state of affairs, but the grievances were not redressed.
Meanwhile, family members of the slain EFR personnel and those of serving ones had taken out a protest march yesterday at EFR headquarters at Salua in Jhargram against the government's move to suspend Benoy Krishna. Benoy Krishna had said the EFR camp at Silda was set up unprofessionally at a crowded place making it extremely difficult for the security personnel to function.
Over the years, the basic needs of EFR personnel were overlooked and they were inhumanly treated by the authorities. There was also total lack of security at the EFR camp, he had said.
He had defended his men saying that authorities did not visit camps like the one at Silda. No sympathy was shown to the EFR personnel, while their role was criticised during the Maoist attack.
He had said that the attention of the state government and the SP had been drawn to the state of affairs, but the grievances were not redressed.
Meanwhile, family members of the slain EFR personnel and those of serving ones had taken out a protest march yesterday at EFR headquarters at Salua in Jhargram against the government's move to suspend Benoy Krishna. PTI
