Superintendent of Police, Cooch Behar Dyutiman Bhattacharya was on Thursday (October 23, 2025) transferred from his post after allegations of assault on those bursting crackers drew widespread condemnation.
Mr. Bhattacharya has been appointed as the Commandant of the 3rd Battalion of the State Armed Police. Sandeep Karra has been appointed as the new Superintendent of Police Cooch Behar in his place.
Mr. Bhattacharya was accused of beating up several people, including children and women, for bursting firecrackers on Deepavali night (October 20) near his official residence. The incident had sparked strong reaction from political and social circles in the State.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari also raised the issue and said that the SP assaulted those children and a woman in an unstable state of mind. Videos in which a person wielding a stick and bandana tied around his head and assaulting people was captured by close circuit television cameras.
While the SP denied any assault, he spoke to media persons on how the bursting of crackers continued unabated till late in the night. “We thought, this will be the end, this will be the end… but 10 pm came, 11 pm came, the power of the firecrackers did not stop. [The firecrackers] were bursting continuously till 1 am. My wife ‘counted’ and up to 60 firecrackers were burst at once. My security guards went and stopped them. No one paid any attention. However, there was no beating. My dogs were screaming and going crazy,” Mr. Bhattacharya said. Not only were the locals assaulted but they were also arrested and later released on bail.
Published – October 24, 2025 03:01 am IST
