A hotel owned by a BJP leader in Englishbazar, Malda, has complained that four persons impersonating police officers trespassed on the property on Friday night.
Sources said the four men in civil dress had introduced themselves as police officers and entered the hotel owned by BJP president of South Malda organisational district Parthasarathi Ghosh around 11pm.
“They apparently started asking the whereabouts of a person who had checked out around 10am on Friday after having stayed there for three days from February 28,” said a source.
When told about the status, the “fake officers” started knocking on hotel rooms which frightened guests and employees. “They even harassed our employees and ransacked some properties, too,” the source said.
The impersonators apparently left after 45 minutes.
“While leaving, the four men took away the mobile phone of an employee and the guest register, too,” said Subrata Ghosh, a relative of the BJP leader.
The hotel employees called the police that night and then registered a written complaint on Saturday. “The entire incident has been captured on CCTV cameras,” said Ghosh.
The BJP district president was unavailable for comment as he is out of the station on a political assignment.
Even though his family expressed trust in the police’s investigation, the incident did take a political colour.
Ajay Ganguly, B J P vice-president of South Malda district, termed it as a breakdown in law and order. “Goons are faking as police personnel and entering a hotel to harass the people and employees. This is an indication of the law and order in the state,” said Ganguly.
Trinamul Congress leader and chairman of Englishbazar municipality, Krishnendu Narayan Chowdhury, however, termed it as a stray incident.
“Whatever happened is a stray incident. Police are probing the incident and we believe the miscreants will be arrested,” said Chowdhury.
Police sources informed that an investigation had started and one person was detained.
Krishnendu Chowdhury, the secretary of the Malda hotel owners’ association, said that they were concerned about the incident. “We will soon hold a meeting of the members to discuss the issue,” he said.
