Candidate-cop versus policeman-neta

On the other hand, the superintendent of police, Gyanwant Singh, is often seen playing a role that goes beyond the realm of mere policing and into social work. Till a few days ago, he had been addressing public gatherings, exhorting people to rise above fear and political terror.

Many like to believe that his messages are aimed at Adhir Chowdhury because his rise to power and authority is attributed to sheer muscle power.

Because of this apparent role reversal between politician and policeman, it is no more a Congress-CPIM battle.

Chowdhury, riding a popular wave after a stunning performance in the past five years, is sure of victory. So he is gunning for the SP, flooding the election authority with complaints alleging that the IPS officer had been playing into the hands of the ruling Left and acting in a biased manner. 8216;8216;The SP has a hidden political agenda,8217;8217; says Chowdhury.

But first, a brief look at Chowdhury8217;s career. A thriving contractor who brooked no rivals, Chowdhury was initially linked with Left politics. He fell out with them and got a Congress ticket to fight the 1996 assembly election from Nabagram, an assembly segment under his present LS constituency.

He won by a landslide margin without making a single appearance8212;he had to contest in absentia since he was on the run from the police. In 1999, he won the Berhampore Parliament seat. In between, he routed the Left parties in the Berhampore municipal election, winning the civic body by a margin of 23-0.

Apart from helping people, he has changed the face of Behrampore for the better. At the civic body, every official is in his seat when the office opens and the work culture is remarkable.

Chowdhury8217;s violent record as a contractor is the only chink in his armour. He and his associates have numerous criminal cases against them, including murders. In a television programme a couple of weeks ago, Chowdhury confessed candidly that he had 8220;murdered8221; CPIM men in retaliation against attempts on his life.

District police sources say that, during the past five years, Chowdhury has successfully manipulated the police administration to secure acquittals in several murder cases against him for lack of witnesses and evidence.

But Gyanwant Singh, the SP, is said to be reviving many of these old cases now. He even got the government to sack two senior policemen for their shoddy investigation that resulted in the acquittals of Chowdhury in several cases.

The SP, armed with a fresh petition from the widow of a slain CPIM supporter and a court order asking the police for a fresh inquiry into a murder case of 2001, was quick to pick up Chowdhury8217;s brother in law one of the accused, and lodge him in jail. 8216;8216;I am only trying to implement the rule of law,8217;8217; says Singh.

But what about Husseinnagar, where he held at least four public meetings and organised blood donation camps after a number of murders committed there, allegedly by Adhir8217;s men? 8216;8216;It was to restore the confidence of the people in the administration,8217;8217; he says.

The SP is unfazed by attacks from the MP and refuses to be dragged into the controversy. 8220;I am here to see that not even a bird is killed, let alone human beings,8221; says Singh. He promises to remove a veil of threat and intimidation that many were said to be living under in this district. Yet, again his message is said to be aimed at Berhampore8217;s don.

The battle in Berhampore promises to linger beyond the elections.