Kolkata, Apr 29 (PTI) Special police observer Ajay Pal Sharma on Wednesday toured West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, keeping vigil on the polling process during the second phase of Assembly elections, officials said.
Sharma, a Uttar Pradesh-cadre IPS officer currently posted as ACP in Prayagraj, had drawn political controversy over his proactive measures in the Diamond Harbour area, considered the stronghold of TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, over the past two days to prevent intimidation and violence.
Sharma, who earned the moniker ‘Singham’ for his crackdown on criminals, faced protests from TMC leaders and workers on Tuesday who accused him of overstepping his role and “intimidating” party workers ahead of the polls.
Eyewitness accounts claimed Sharma was heard warning potential troublemakers of “appropriate treatment” if they tried to disrupt polling in the state, and had even landed up at the doorstep of the Falta assembly segment’s TMC candidate Jahangir Khan, and said authorities would take “firm and immediate steps” if there were reports of voter intimidation.
Notwithstanding the party’s political retaliation, which included moving Calcutta High Court against the officer, Sharma was seen coordinating with the armed central forces deployed in the area and leaving for the polling stations where people queued up to exercise their franchise since early morning.
No reports of any untoward incident were received so far from the region, which has been marked as highly sensitive by the Election Commission.
CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh also reached Diamond Harbour to take stock of security arrangements in the politically sensitive region.
According to a CRPF post on X, the DG, accompanied by senior officers, visited the B/4 company of Adhoc 343 at Diamond Harbour during the second phase of the Bengal polls.
“The DG interacted directly with the troops on duty, taking a firsthand account of the ground situation and reviewing the security apparatus. He also took stock of the logistics for the deployed troops. His visit boosts the morale of our jawans committed to conducting a peaceful and transparent election,” the force said in the post.
The counting of votes for the two-phase assembly polls in West Bengal will take place on May 4. PTI SMY BSM MNB
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