The Election Commission (EC) Saturday transferred the officer-in-charge (OC) of the Kalighat Police Station in Kolkata, Gautam Das, by replacing him with Chameli Mukhopadhyay, OC of Ultadanga Women Police Station in the city.

This decision was taken after Das posted on a social media site a photograph of himself with an automatic rifle while wearing the Kolkata Police uniform. In the wake of Das posting the photo, the Trinamool Congress complained to the EC and urged the poll body to remove him. This is the third time the OC of Kalighat Police Station has been transferred after the poll schedule for Bengal was declared in March.

TMC spokesperson Jaiprakash Majumdar said, “This picture is not only uncomfortable, but it is quite objectionable in the eyes of the law. In this picture, it is clear that he is targeting someone by showing a sophisticated gun.”

“No police officer on duty can post his picture on social media while wearing a uniform. It is mentioned in the guidelines regarding the use of social media by the Kolkata Police. Besides, as per the instructions of the Government of India, it is prohibited to post any type of caption or picture on social media that is threatening or provocative. How come the OC of Kalighat Police Station posted this ‘controversial’ picture?” he added.

The EC had first changed the OC of Kalighat Police Station on March 29. Utpal Ghosh of the Intelligence Division of the Kolkata Police was brought in as the OC of the Kalighat police station. Within a month, just before the polling in the second phase of the Assembly elections in the state, Ghosh was transferred, and he was replaced by Gautam Das.

Kalighat police station is under the Bhabanipur assembly constituency, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting against BJP Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.

According to sources in the EC, Das was replaced as the poll body does not want any controversy in such a high-profile constituency.