West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari revealed the decision to dismantle the West Bengal Police Welfare Board, previously overseen by Santanu Sinha Biswas during the Trinamool Congress regime. The Chief Minister stated that an official notification regarding this action would be released on May 18. Adhikari expressed concerns about the board’s transformation into a tool for a specific political party, questioning its effectiveness in supporting police personnel and their families.
The announcement follows the recent termination of Santanu Sinha Biswas’s service extension by the new state government after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate. Sinha Biswas, a close associate of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, played a key role in the welfare board. Adhikari emphasized the importance of allowing victims of political violence to file complaints with the police and present evidence to receive necessary assistance under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Adhikari assured that individuals affected by political violence could now lodge complaints against police officers if needed. He highlighted the shift towards a system where law enforcement would act impartially and accept complaints against their colleagues. The Chief Minister emphasized the establishment of the rule of law over the rule of any individual in West Bengal.
