Rizwanur case: 'Police chief won't be spared'

In the severest indictment of the role of the police in the death of Rizwanur Rehman, who was threatened by senior officers to separate from his Hindu wife, Communist Party of India-Marxist patriarch Jyoti Basu on Friday said that two officers had been removed and the police commissioner might not be spared.

"Heads will roll and even Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee may not be spared," Basu said.

Basu criticised the police chief for his press conference two days after Rizwanur's death on September 21 defending police officers who threatened him to part with his Hindu wife Priyanka, the daughter of industrialist, Ashok Todi.

"It is very bad and undesirable. It has come to the notice of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee," Basu said.

Asked why no action was taken against two other senior police officers, who threatened Rizwanur, Basu said, "The court is hearing a case on a petition (by the victim's family) praying for a CBI probe in this matter. Let us wait for the court's decision," Basu said.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary P R Roy, however, said no decision had been taken for the removal of the police chief and if necessary action might be taken against Deputy Commissioner (headquarters) Gyanwant Singh and Deputy Commissioner (detective department) Ajay Kumar.

Roy said the government did not endorse the statement of the police commissioner that it was possible for the police to interfere in the married life of two adults.

He said the two other police officers, Sub-Inspector Krishnendu Das and Assistant Commissioner (Anti-Rowdy section) Sukanti Chakraborty might be re-examined by the CID.

The deputy commissioner (south) and officer-in-charge, Karaya police station would also be examined, he added.

Park Circus where Rizwanur lived falls under the police station. Roy said no decision has been taken on the transfer or suspension of any police officer though the government was actively considering action.