Kolkata:
Families of Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) jawans are on a silent march at West Midnapore's Salua to protest the suspension of Special IG Benoy Chakraborty. They issued an ultimatum to revoke his suspension within 48 hours, or face a more aggressive agitation.
That threat may have worked.
Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh has denied the suspension, saying he has not received any complaint against Chakraborty. "Ask the government," he said. (
Read: Bengal top cop suspended after he blames Govt for Maoist attack)
At a press meet on Saturday, Chakraborty had slammed the state police for what he called its unprofessional decision to have a camp in the middle of the Shilda market where Maoists killed 24 jawans on Monday.
Not only the protest by jawans' families, a rethink on the suspension has been forced after the chief minister was advised that an IPS officer cannot be suspended just like that. A departmental procedure will first have to be undertaken.
A final decision on action against Benoy Chakraborty is likely to be taken on Monday.