Government Action on Sangh Parivar Group’s Complaint; IPS Officer Bushra Bano Becomes Latest Victim of Hate Politics

Kolkata: IPS officer Dr Bushara Bano has become the latest focus of controversy after a video in which she used Islamic greetings while sharing her experience of preparing for the civil services examination drew objections from right-wing groups. She was transferred from her post as Additional Superintendent of Police in Kharagpur to Deputy Commandant of the State Armed Police 4th Battalion. The transfer order described the move as an administrative reshuffle in the public interest.

Bano had posted a video offering guidance to students preparing for the civil services examination. In the video, she used the greetings "Assalamualaikum" and "Inshallah" while speaking about her journey.

The Hindu Legal Fund, a right-wing organisation, subsequently complained to the West Bengal Home Secretary, objecting to Bano's use of the expressions and alleging that she should have used "Vande Mataram" or "Jai Hind" in her public communication.

The controversy intensified on social media, with right-wing groups and accounts criticising the officer over the religious expressions used in the video. Reports said the transfer followed the complaint, although the government's transfer order did not publicly cite the video or the social media controversy as the reason for the move.

The transfer has triggered criticism from opposition voices, who have alleged that the action reflects religious bias. The development has also raised questions over the extent to which civil servants can use personal or religious expressions in public communication.

Bano is a 2021-batch IPS officer of the West Bengal cadre. Before joining the civil services, she worked as an assistant professor in Saudi Arabia and had completed her PhD in management studies at Aligarh Muslim University.