Abducted IB officer’s name skipped at investiture

KOLKATA - Sparking off a controversy, the name of an abducted West Bengal Intelligence Branch (IB) officer selected by the state government for a police medal was not announced Tuesday at the investiture ceremony here.

Additional Director General (Law and Order) Surojit Kar Purakayastha Monday said IB officer Partha Biswas, believed to be abducted by the Maoists along with his school teacher friend Soumyajit Bose from Purulia district Oct 23, had been selected for the Prashansa Medal given to police personnel who have completed more than 15 years of service with dedication.

But during the investiture, Biswas’s name was not announced even though he was listed among the awardees. His photograph was also not published in the brochure brought out on the occasion.

Moreover, the relatives of the IB officer were not invited for the investuture.

“We heard it from Partha’s colleagues that he was nominated for his meritorious service, but we were not informed officially. So we didn’t go,” Biswas’ cousin Sujoy Dutta told IANS.

Questioned on the subject, Purakayashtha said: “Partha Biswas was nominated for the Prashansa Medal much before he was abducted by the Maoists. As he is missing, his name was not announced in the programme but his name is very much there in the book where the name of the other recipients are given.”

“Prashansa Medal is given to the awardees, not to the relatives. So, his relatives were not invited,” he added.