A central body of IAS officers on Tuesday sought “exemplary punishment” for Nikhil Nirmal in connection with an alleged assault of a youth at a police station as the Bengal government planned administrative and legal action against the Alipurduar district magistrate.

A video had gone viral on social media, showing Nirmal and his wife slapping and kicking a youth at Falakata police station on Sunday. The youth was arrested for allegedly making lewd comments against the officer's wife on social media.

“Taking law in your hands is wrong. It's important for officers in responsible positions to respect Rule of Law. Support exemplary punishment for such acts, which is not acceptable in a civilized society,” read a tweet in the association’s Twitter handle.

The association's remark is considered rare and has put pressure on the Bengal government to initiate action against Nirmal.

Senior officials at Nabanna said the government was considering stringent action against the officer. “The district magistrate’s action amounts to custodial torture by an unauthorised person,” said a senior officer.

On Monday, the government had sent Nirmal on leave for 10 days. On Tuesday, the government wrote to the Election Commission of India seeking permission to remove him from the DM’s post.

The permission from the election panel is required as the process of electoral roll revision is on across the country.

The government has also given a go-ahead to the inspector-in-charge of Falakata police station, Soumyajit Roy, to take legal action against the district magistrate. Binod Kumar Sarkar had been roughed up allegedly by Nirmal in Roy’s chamber at the Falakata police station.

“Once the police lodge a complaint, the investigation will start and charges will be framed against the officer. It is clear that the officer will not go untouched,” said a senior government official.

Sources at Nabanna said the top brass of the government had decided to take exemplary action against Nirmal, known to be close to the Trinamul Congress, after a senior officer had received a video clip showing the officer and his wife slapping a youth repeatedly at a police station.

The senior officer asked a superior officer of the DM to talk to him and seek explanation.

“The district magistrate accepted that he had done it and he was ready to face the consequences. The DM also made it clear that his relatives had captured the video and posted it on social media. The top officials were stunned by his attitude,” said a source.