Injured cop prays for colleagues

KOLKATA: On Thursday morning, Jagannath Mondal will be sitting several kilometres away from Girish Park but he would be closely tracking every development in that area. It was here that Mondal, 55, had taken a bullet an hour after the civic poll had ended exactly 369 days ago.

He was a part of the police contingent that was trying to disperse a group, allegedly led by the husband of a local Trinamool leader, that had attacked the house of a political opponent. He was caught in the crossfiring between two groups.

"I came face to face with death that day. Even today when I think of it, I find it hard to believe that I managed to come out alive," says Mondal sitting on his chair at Alipore police station. The crisp and immaculate white uniform rests on his tall frame with full glory.

The gunshot injury to Mondal was all the more startling because through the day Trinamool workers allegedly had a field day intimidating voters, manipulating polls and hurling crude bombs to spread fear. The police were accused of turning a blind eye to the excesses.

"I could not see the face of my assailants. I am thankful that none of my other colleagues took the bullet," said Mondal.

After recuperating, Mondal had taken a transfer to Alipore police station.He will not be on poll duty on thursday because Alipore, where he is posted, will vote on April 30.

"But I will be keenly watching the developments in areas going to polls on Thursday . For a man in uniform, there is nothing more painful than an assault on the institution of police. I hope all my colleagues will be safe," Mondal told TOI.

According to officers of Kolkata Police, close to 2,000 cops would be deployed in the entire Jorasanko assembly constituency apart from the central forces.

"All my colleagues should take care of themselves without compromising with their duty ," said Mondal.

In 2013, sub-inspector Tapas Chowdhury was shot dead in front of a college in Garden Reach. The then Trinamool councillor, Mohammed Iqbal, is the prime accused.