West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose is set to lead a team of security personnel in a search operation at the Raj Bhavan on Monday, following allegations by a TMC Member of Parliament (MP) that arms and ammunition were being stockpiled within the premises, an official confirmed.
Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee had made the serious accusation on Saturday, alleging that Bose was "sheltering BJP criminals" inside the Raj Bhavan and "arming them with bombs and guns."
"The entire Raj Bhavan will be searched by a joint team of the Kolkata Police and central forces deputed here on Monday to find out whether there are arms and ammunition stacked inside. The Governor will be leading the search operation," the official told the media.
Bose, who had been on a short trip to North Bengal, cut short his tour to personally spearhead the operation, the official said.
"There would also be deployment of Kolkata Police personnel at the Raj Bhavan Police outpost, along with the bomb and dog squads. Officials of the Disaster Management & Civil Defence departments will also participate in the search," the official added.
To facilitate the combing operation, the Raj Bhavan premises will be evacuated on Monday afternoon. Members of the civil society and journalists will be permitted to accompany Bose during the exercise, which will be "live streamed," the official said.
The TMC MP had made the explosive allegations on Saturday, just hours after Bose stated that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was essential to "clean up the election process." Bose subsequently announced on Sunday that he had sought legal opinion over Banerjee’s allegations, prompting the lawmaker to state he is ready for a battle in court and that he cannot be intimidated.
Also read: Raj Bhavan opens gates after TMC MP’s weapons stash claim
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