IPS officer Bushra Bano transferred in West Bengal amid religious greeting row

West Bengal IPS officer Bushra Bano has been transferred from her position as Additional Superintendent of Police in Kharagpur to Deputy Commandant of the 4th Battalion of the State Armed Police. The transfer, ordered on September 14, cited ‘public interest’ as the official reason.

The move follows social media controversy regarding a video Bano posted to encourage civil service aspirants. In the video, she shared her journey and praised the Aligarh Muslim University’s Residential Coaching Academy. During the recording, she used Islamic greetings such as ‘Assalamu Alaikum’ and the phrase ‘Inshallah’.

Several right-wing organizations, including the Hindu Legal Fund, criticized the officer, arguing that a serving state official should maintain neutrality and use national expressions like ‘Jai Hind’ or ‘Vande Mataram’ instead. The group reportedly filed a complaint with the West Bengal Home Secretary. While the government has not officially linked the transfer to the video, the timing has sparked political debate, with opposition leaders questioning the decision.