Police’s decision to curtail the number of security personnel of former minister and Malda district Trinamul chairman Krishnendu Choudhury left him miffed on Wednesday.

Although senior district police officers claimed that the security downgrade had been decided on after a review, Choudhury was annoyed and took up the matter with the state Trinamul Congress leadership.

Choudhury, who was appointed the district chairman of the party in January, is also the secretary of the district sports association. He claimed that considering the threat to his life, the state government had assigned security cover to him even during the Left Front regime.

According to him, one of his three armed security personnel received a message on his cellphone on Tuesday night.

“He was asked to leave my address and report for another duty. I was surprised but without demur, I released all the three immediately. None of them turned up for duty this morning either at my residence or in my office,” said Choudhury.

He claimed that a number of attacks were organised on him.

“When I was a minister, I was provided with six police personnel. However, I am not bothered about the security downgrade. There are hundreds of Trinamul workers who can take care of my security,” the miffed Trinamul leader said.

Alok Rajoria, the superintendent of police of Malda, spoke differently.

“We have withdrawn only one of his three security persons after the routine review. Two others are still on duty as his security personnel,” he said.

A section of Trinamul leaders believes that the curtailment of the former minister’s security might have a connection with the recent incident which they believe, had

demeaned the image of the party.

Last week, Choudhury was caught in a controversy after Englishbazar Trinamul MLA Nihar Ranjan Ghosh’s house had been attacked. Ghosh had alleged that Choudhury and the district youth Trinamul president had orchestrated the attack.

The district Trinamul chairman, however, rejected the allegation

While a section of Trinamul workers believes the police should have informed Choudhury before reducing his security cover, others feel the former minister, who was cornered after the attack on the MLA’s house, is trying to attract attention.

“His reaction is undesirable and might send a wrong message to people. It would also raise questions as to whether he has confidence in the party workers. He should have spoken to police officers to resolve the issue,” said a senior Trinamul leader.