Just as West Bengal braces for assembly elections, its police HQ at Bhavani Bhawan has stirred controversy by transferring three women civilian volunteers. The Monday announcement by a senior officer breaks new ground, as such central directives for volunteers are unheard of.
Post-2011 TMC rule saw the volunteer program’s launch, with thousands enlisted locally in places like Howrah. Courts, including Calcutta HC, have ruled them non-police, unfit for duty assistance. Ignoring this, the transfer order lacks justification, raising red flags.
It echoes recent waves of police postings—IPS officers statewide, plus station and commissionerate staff. Analysts see this as strategic repositioning, potentially for poll duties despite legal limits.
The move tests boundaries of administrative power versus judicial oversight. With elections nearing, it could escalate into a flashpoint for accusations of TMC favoritism. Stakeholders demand answers, but official reticence keeps the mystery alive, spotlighting Bengal’s fraught security-politics nexus.