IPS officer suspended over CJI program security lapse

An IPS officer here has been suspended owing to an alleged lapse in security arrangements during Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi's visit to the ancient Kamakhya temple in Guwahati on Wednesday when BJP chief Amit Shah also visited there.

An official order of Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi said the IPS officer, Bhanwar Lal Meena, the deputy commissioner of police (West), Guwahati was put under suspension with immediate effect and a departmental inquiry would follow.

Another senior Assam civil service officer was also suspended regarding the incident.

The order said there was a lapse in security arrangements although there was prior official information about the chief justice's program.

Gogoi had reportedly expressed displeasure after BJP supporters had reportedly dispersed the security ring of the chief justice to make way for Amit Shah's entry into the ancient temple atop Nilachal hills here.

Shah, accompanied by Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had visited the temple around 10 am on Wednesday before flying to Mizoram capital Aizawl for kicking off BJP's campaign for next month's Assembly elections there.

Shah and Gogoi had visited the temple premises almost at the same time. Slogans by a crowd of BJP workers in front of Gogoi had irked him who looked visibly angry, officials said.