A political controversy has erupted in Nadia following the transfer of Taherpur police station’s officer in-charge Avijit Biswas barely within five hours of the CPM defeating the Trinamul Congress to retain control over the town’s municipality.

The Opposition claimed Biswas was shifted as the CPM managed to win Taherpur despite the all-around green sweep. The district police, however, rejected the suspicion and termed it as “routine” transfer.

In the civic poll held on February 27, CPM retained power in Taherpur as the party won eight of the 13 wards.

Trinamul insiders said a pro-active role by Taherpur police, led by Biswas, on the day of polling had posed a problem before the ruling party to mobilise voters and “manage booths”.

"Biswas was unusually proactive on the day of polling and did not cooperate with our party activists. The leadership is not happy with his role," said a Trinamul leader while refusing to link the poll result with Biswas’ transfer.

A transfer order issued on Wednesday asked Biswas to join the office of the superintendent of Ranaghat police district. Biswas has been replaced with Dhantala officer in-charge Amiyotosh Roy.

CPM has questioned the timing of the transfer and neutrality of the Ranaghat Police administration.

“Police were never impartial throughout the election process. But on the day of polling Avijit babu and his team tried their best to ensure free and fair polling. The polls were largely fair barring a few incidents of malpractice. At the same time, we managed to prevent looting of votes. This was reason enough for the police officer to earn the wrath of the ruling party,” said Supratip Roy, CPM’s Taherpur area committee secretary.

“An officer is definitely eligible for transfer on completion of his tenure. But the timing here has raised suspicion,” Roy said and added that the Trinamul had the habit of punishing non-partisan officers.

BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar also questioned the transfer and said “the Trinamul government never encouraged the police to act impartially”.

Additional superintendent of police, Ranaghat police district, Rupantar Sengupta, said: “Avijit Biswas has served for over four years as OC Taherpur and his transfer was due. It is a routine affair. Decision of his transfer was finalised before the poll, but it could be executed only after the poll.”

Nadia south Trinamul Congress president Ratna Ghosh said: “The transfer is a routine matter. At least three officers were transferred and there is no relation with poll results.”