Bengal transfers Muslim IPS officer days after complaint by Hindutva groups

Some social media accounts had criticised the officer for using Islamic greetings in a social media video instead of saying ‘Vande Mataram’ or ‘Jai Hind’.

Bengal transfers Muslim IPS officer days after complaint by Hindutva groups

Indian Police Service officer Bushara Bano was transferred by the West Bengal government on Monday, two days after Hindutva groups criticised for using Islamic greetings in a video posted online, The Times of India reported.

In the video posted on Sunday, Bano had spoken about how the Residential Coaching Academy of the Aligarh Muslim University in Uttar Pradesh had helped her prepare for the Union Public Service Commission exam.

Some social media accounts including The Jaipur Dialogue and the Hindu Legal Fund, had criticised the Muslim IPS officer for saying “assalamualaikum”, a greeting that means “peace be unto you”, as well as “inshallah”, a phrase meaning god willing, and “jazakallah”, which means “may god reward you”.

They said that she had not said “Vande Mataram” or “Jai Hind”.

“A serving officer representing the Indian state should maintain neutrality and use national expressions in public communication,” The Hindu Legal Fund had said.

The group said that it had filed a complaint with the West Bengal home secretary and sought action.

Bano, a 2021 batch officer, was the additional superintendent of police in Paschim Medinipur district’s Kharagpur. On Monday, Bano was made the deputy commanding officer of the State Armed Police’s 4th battalion.

Two other officers were also transferred as part of the same order.

The Opposition criticised the government’s decision.

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