In south Kolkata, the officer‑in‑charge of Chetla Police Station was removed after a man was murdered with a digging bar near the mayor’s home. A senior state official confirmed the change on Sunday, naming Amitabh Sarkhel, who had been the Additional OC at Alipore Police Station, as the new Chetla OC.
The late‑night killing, which took place at about 11:30 p.m. near the Chetla 17A/17B bus stand, was a shock to the city’s residents. Victim Ashok Paswan, 42, was attacked with a digging bar that was thrust into his throat, causing him to die on the spot. The incident is particularly unsettling because it occurred just a few steps from Mayor Firhad Hakim’s residence, raising alarm over public safety and the ability of Kolkata police to protect the area after hours.
“Police are already on the scene and have taken several people into custody,” said Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma. “We have detained suspects and are still searching for the rest. The presence of police is clear, but we are looking into every lead to solve this case.”
The city’s administration had already been dealing with a name‑drops scandal. The previous OC of Chetla Police Station, Sukhendu Mukherjee, had been promoted to Assistant Commissioner while continuing to run the station. After the murder, the state police swiftly replaced him to restore confidence.
Former Additional Director General Nazrul Islam criticized the police force for ignoring repeated incidents of drunk‑driving parties and other anti‑social activities in the area. “Changing one officer does not fix the problem. These daily liquor parties on public roads show a failure on the part of law enforcement,” he said.
Local residents, outraged by the crime, point to the nightly parties and lack of policing as major concerns. Two suspects have already been arrested, and the investigation continues.
This event underscores the need for robust night‑time policing in Kolkata, especially in neighborhoods close to city offices and the mayor’s residence. Police departments across the city are under pressure to improve public safety and regain the trust of citizens.
Source: ianslive
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