Police Oversight in West Bengal Elections: Ajay Pal Sharma's Controversial Visit

Ajay Pal Sharma Monitors Voting in South 24 Parganas

On Wednesday, Ajay Pal Sharma, a special police supervisor, visited the South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal to oversee the voting process during the second phase of the assembly elections, as reported by officials.

Sharma, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, is currently serving as an Assistant Commissioner of Police in Prayagraj. His proactive measures to prevent intimidation and violence in the Diamond Harbour area over the past two days have sparked political controversy, given that this region is considered a stronghold of Trinamool Congress's national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee.

Controversy Surrounds Sharma's Actions

Known as 'Singham' for his tough stance against criminals, Sharma faced protests from Trinamool leaders and workers on Tuesday. They accused him of overstepping his authority and intimidating party members ahead of the elections.

Witnesses reported hearing Sharma warn suspected troublemakers that strict action would be taken against them if they attempted to disrupt voting in the state.

Engagement with Local Candidates

Sharma also visited the residence of Jahangir Khan, the Trinamool candidate for the Falta assembly constituency, stating that if there were reports of voter intimidation, the administration would take 'strict and immediate action.'

Despite Trinamool Congress approaching the Calcutta High Court against Sharma, the IPS officer was seen coordinating with armed central forces in the area and visiting polling stations where voters had been queuing since morning.

Security Measures in Place

So far, there have been no reports of any untoward incidents in this area, which the Election Commission has declared highly sensitive.

The Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Gyanendra Pratap Singh, also visited Diamond Harbour to assess security arrangements in this politically sensitive region.

CRPF's Commitment to Peaceful Elections

The CRPF posted on social media that the Director General visited the Adhoc 343 B/4 company during the second phase of the Bengal elections, engaging directly with deployed personnel to gather ground-level insights and review security measures.

The post emphasized that his visit boosts the morale of our committed personnel, dedicated to ensuring a peaceful and transparent election process.

Upcoming Election Milestones

The counting of votes for the assembly elections, which are being held in two phases in West Bengal, is scheduled for May 4.