SI accused of kicking teacher won’t probe clash cases: Top cop
Times of India | 12 April 2025
Kolkata: Sub-inspector Ritan Das, accused of kicking a teacher during a protest at the school district inspector's office in Kasba on April 9, would not investigate either of the two cases registered about the clash, said KP commissioner Manoj Verma on Friday.
About the document submitted to court on Case No. 159 registered at the Kasba PS, where Das was shown as the investigating officer (IO), Verma said he was the duty officer when the complaint from the DI office was received. "So, he drew up the FIR. Later, Kasba police station OC handed the case to SI Sanjay Singh." The commissioner claimed the change of IO was "nothing new" in Kolkata Police. "We have a file system, under which the duty officer maintains the file. Normally, when a case is registered, the duty officer automatically becomes the IO. The IO is changed later. It is a very normal practice in KP, where the OC can redistribute cases if the IO has to manage multiple cases. There is no rule that Das, just because he wrote the FIR, will investigate the case," said the CP, adding court records would be changed later.
Verma maintained that the reassignment of IO was not due to public pressure but was rather a routine protocol.
The incident has elicited discussions about investigation impartiality within the department. But Verma said no prior decisions in the case would be altered due to the controversy.
Lalbazar also pointed out there would be no separate investigation into Das's role but a probe, routinely carried out after such complaints, was being initiated. "After every lathicharge, there is a probe conducted into its circumstances and requirements. That investigation is being conducted by DC (SSD) Bidisha Kalita. It is still being prepared," said a senior officer.
Speaking about the clash, Verma claimed several cops, too, suffered injuries. "SI Das sustained injuries to his groin and chest. He was slapped and punched in his ears and his spectacles were broken. Who would have taken the responsibility had he received injuries in his eyes or ears? Will teachers assault cops in such a manner?" he said.
Das, a 2010 entrant to the force, told his superiors he suffered a "momentary lapse of concentration" as protesters snatched away his lathi, smashed his glasses, targeted him and separated him from his colleagues. But Das's act has divided even KP, a force where colleagues usually back each other. While one section pointed at the circumstances, calling it a temporary lapse given the entire chain of events, others were critical of his act, calling it a severe breach of discipline that "could have been avoided".