Shamim Khan

Bolpur, Sept. 30: The sub-inspector of Bolpur police station who was assaulted allegedly by the district Trinamul Youth Congress president and his associates on September 3 was transferred last week, apparently following a request by the cop.

Sub-inspector Shamim Khan has been transferred to Birbhum’s Nalhati police station, 75km from Bolpur. Police sources said Nalhati police station was not as important as the one in Bolpur.

On September 3 night, 15 Trinamul activists allegedly led by Sudipta Ghosh had barged into Bolpur police station demanding the arrest of a drug peddler. They had allegedly slapped and punched Khan.

The incident had angered mid-level police officers as it took superior officers 14 hours to decide whether an FIR would be lodged against Ghosh and his associates, who are said to be close to Birbhum Trinamul president Anubrata Mondal. The complaint was lodged on September 4 afternoon. Ghosh and five others named in the FIR are yet to be arrested.

Five of the accused, including Ghosh, had applied for anticipatory bail but it was rejected yesterday.

Police sources said Khan had requested SP Alok Rajoria for a transfer.

“We understand Khan’s position. It becomes difficult for an officer to work in a police station after being humiliated by party workers. Moreover, they are all local people and he would have had to work right under their nose,” a police officer in Bolpur said.

The officer said the situation was “all the more delicate” for Khan because his alleged attackers were close to Mondal. The officer feared that Khan could be publicly humiliated in the future.

“It will be tough for Khan to work in the area where his attackers, who are ruling party activists, are roaming about freely. There are chances that he might be humiliated in public. So he did not have too many options and sought a transfer unofficially,” the officer said.

Khan declined comment.

SP Rajoria said: “It is a routine transfer.”