A senior police officer in West Bengal has sparked controversy after a video surfaced showing him making disparaging remarks about women drinking alcohol and “going on rampages.”
In the viral clip, Additional Superintendent of Police Laltu Haldar from Ranaghat Police District in Nadia is heard saying, “Boys will do wrong things. Women’s job is to stop them. But now it is women who are drinking alcohol and going on rampages. This is causing harm to society.”
The comments, made during a meeting with organisers of the Jagadhatri Puja festival, have drawn sharp criticism online, with many accusing the officer of moral policing and reinforcing sexist stereotypes.
Haldar further added that he was “ashamed” to have seen young women consuming alcohol during Kali Puja processions last year. “Girls are standing on the streets and drinking alcohol. Is this the beauty of the procession? If the women of the house behave like this, the society will go crazy,” he said.
Despite the outrage, police sources have confirmed that no disciplinary action has been taken against the officer so far.
The incident comes amid ongoing public anger over the recent gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old MBBS student in Durgapur, which reignited debate on women’s safety in the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also faced criticism for her remarks seemingly shifting responsibility for women’s safety to private institutions.
The officer’s comments have now reignited the discussion around gender bias within the police force and the broader societal attitudes toward women’s freedom and behaviour.
