Kolkata’s Kalighat police station has witnessed yet another leadership change, marking the fourth replacement of its Officer-in-Charge during the ongoing electoral period. The latest reshuffle comes less than 24 hours after the previous appointment, adding to a series of rapid administrative decisions in a politically sensitive phase.
On Saturday, OC Goutam Das was suspended from his position. Following his removal, Chameli Mukhopadhyay, who was serving as the OC of Ultadanga Women’s police station, was brought in to take charge at Kalighat. However, the arrangement was short-lived.
Fresh order from Lalbazar within hours
By Sunday, a new directive from Lalbazar altered the situation once again. The order stated that Chameli Mukhopadhyay would continue in her earlier role at Ultadanga Women’s police station. In her place, Balai Bag was appointed as the new OC of Kalighat police station. Before this, Bag was serving as the Additional OC of Polerhat police station.
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This rapid sequence of changes has made Kalighat one of the most frequently reshuffled police stations in the state during the election period.
Background of earlier changes
The reshuffling of officers at Kalighat is not a recent development. Tensions surrounding the post had surfaced even before polling began. Ahead of the second phase of voting, multiple changes were introduced in key police stations under the Bhowanipore assembly constituency, including Kalighat and Alipore.
During that phase, the then OC Utpalkumar Ghosh was removed, and Goutam Das was assigned to the position.
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Controversy surrounding Goutam Das
Soon after assuming charge, Goutam Das became the subject of controversy over a photograph that allegedly showed him in uniform holding an INSAS rifle. The Trinamool Congress reportedly approached both the Election Commission and the Kolkata Police Commissioner regarding the matter.
However, News Ei Samay has not verified the authenticity of that photograph.
Despite the uncertainty around the image, Das was removed from his post and suspended on Saturday, just two days before the vote counting.
With Balai Bag now taking over, Kalighat police station has undergone four OC changes within the election cycle. The repeated reshuffles, especially so close to counting day, underline the heightened sensitivity and scrutiny surrounding law enforcement positions in poll-bound areas.
