KOLKATA: In an unprecedented move, West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose called on Monday for the Kolkata police team to leave the Raj Bhavan campus. Police officers, however, remained at their posts.
A Lalbazar official said no communication had been received from Raj Bhavan on the matter.
According to a Raj Bhavan official, a letter was sent to the relevant state govt authority.
At a press meet on Friday, Bose had expressed displeasure at victims of poll violence being denied entry to Raj Bhavan despite being granted requisite permission. He had sought a reply from chief minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that Kolkata police had tried to prevent him from carrying out his duty as governor.
On Monday morning, Raj Bhavan officials requested closure of the police outpost at the North Gate, but cops said they could not leave without a directive from Lalbazar. Additionally, Bose wanted to set up a Jana Manch near the gate but the police team refused on grounds that Raj Bhavan was in a high-security zone with prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 permanently imposed around it.
Sources said the governor wanted the team of over 100 Kolkata police personnel to be removed, suspecting that they were keeping tabs on him. Bose already receives Z-category security from CRPF; Kolkata police are posted only in the outer ring.
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