The Special IG of Eastern Frontier Rifles, which lost 24 of its personnel in a Maoist attack, was on Monday issued a show-cause notice by the West Bengal government two days after he blamed the police administration for the February 15 incident at the force's Silda camp.
"Special IG of EFR Benoy Krishna Chakraborty has been issued showcause notice," Chief Secretary Asok Mohan Chakraborty told media persons, holding him responsible for violating service rules.
Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said no timeframe has been fixed for the EFR Special IG's reply.
The chief secretary said a departmental inquiry would be initiated against Chakraborty, adding: "I can't say if the government's decision will be popular or not."
The Home Secretary, however, said, "Let us see how Chakraborty replies to the showcause notice, as he may have his own point. The government has the option, but it is not mandatory to suspend the officer."
State Armed Force DGP Partha Bhattacharya, on the other hand, said it was not a show-cause notice, but an explanation had been sought from the Special EFR IG.
Benoy Krishna had earlier held West Midnapore SP Manoj Verma "fully responsible" for the Maoist attack on the EFR camp. The administration had "systematically" ignored EFR personnel and "treated them as beasts".
The EFR chief had also said that the camp was set up unprofessionally in a crowded location making it extremely difficult for the security personnel to function.
He had defended his men saying that authorities did not visit camps like the one at Silda. No sympathy was shown to the EFR personnel, while their role was criticised during the Maoist attack.
Meanwhile, the state government formed a three-member inquiry committee headed by the Home Secretary to look into the attack at Silda camp in West Midnapore district.
The chief secretary was preparing the detailed terms of reference of the committee, which has been asked to submit its report within two months, Sen said.
Sen said the committee would fix responsibility on the lapses at the Silda camp, point out the cause of its occurrence, and also measures to prevent it. Other committee members were ADG (CID) Raj Kanojia and IGP (western range) Kuldip Singh.
