A woman IPS officer in India’s West Bengal has been transferred after facing backlash from Hindu nationalist groups for using Islamic greetings such as “Assalamu Alaikum,” “Insha Allah” and “Jazakallah” in a video.
Bushra Bano, an Indian Police Service officer, was serving as additional superintendent of police (ASP) in Kharagpur before being transferred on Monday as deputy commandant of the State Armed Police (SAP), reports The Wire.
Bano had previously worked in Saudi Arabia before returning to India and clearing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination twice.
The controversy began after a video featuring Bano’s use of Islamic phrases circulated on social media. Hindu nationalist accounts criticised her for not using slogans such as “Vande Mataram” or “Jai Hind.”
Controversial broadcaster Sudarshan News subsequently described the incident as “UPSC Jihad”, while an organisation called Hindu Legal Fund filed a complaint against Bano with West Bengal’s home secretary.
Bano was transferred a day after the complaint was filed.
The transfer has drawn criticism from opposition politicians and former bureaucrats.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra criticised the move, contrasting it with India’s efforts to project a secular image at the recent BRICS summit.
Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi called for the IPS Association to intervene, alleging that Bano had been targeted by online trolling and criticising the state government for transferring her instead of supporting her.
Former bureaucrat Ashish Joshi said Bano’s use of the phrases reflected her personal beliefs and did not undermine her commitment to serving the country.
He said pluralism in a diverse country like India was “not a weakness but a matter of pride.”
