Alerting about illegal cross-border movements, including potential terrorist threats, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday directed all district administrations of north Bengal to remain vigilant and increase patrolling.
Addressing a review meeting at Siliguri’s Uttarkanya, the administrative headquarters of North Bengal, the chief minister said the districts in the northern part of the state, sharing international borders with Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, are “very sensitive” region.
According to top officials of the West Bengal Police, the CM warned the administration and directed it to remain vigilant in the border areas. “Even though the BSF is deployed, state administrative officials must also remain vigilant,” she said.
“Border areas are very sensitive. A few days ago, a person from Sitalkuchi was picked up. He was a farmer cultivating his own land. He was not at any fault. When I got the news from Udayan Guha (state Minister, North Bengal development department), we took immediate action, facilitated his bail, and brought him back. Such things are going on in the border areas. You all should be vigilant. Just because the BSF is there, it does not mean that the ICs and OCs will turn a blind eye,” Banerjee added.
“I have heard that several outsiders from Assam and other neighbouring states are entering the state. They are noting down every personal detail from the common man as well as those of senior officers. I will ask my officers to be alert so that no terrorist can take shelter anywhere in Bengal. Do not share any information other than those who are authorised for this job,” the CM said.
“There are several arrests in this connection. We have arrested people from Jhargram, Malda, Cooch Behar, Kolkata, Diamond Harbour and several other places in Bengal. They are roaming around here,” she added.
The CM directed police personnel to increase patrolling in their respective areas. “…Earlier, police used to go on patrol several times regularly, now you will hardly see any such activity. The more you move around in police vans, people will know that you are there,” she said.
Meanwhile, warning the Cooch Behar Police over reported friction in the department, the CM said: “There is some DSP or SDPO in the Cooch Behar headquarters, namely Chandan da. Despite being in the headquarters, he is not being given work… If you (the police) form lobbies within yourselves, how will the people sustain?.. Police do not form groups among themselves. Political people do that more… all this time, that is what we knew.”
The CM also cautioned officials against the spread of misinformation and fake news.
Raising concerns over alleged irregularities in the preparation of the voters’ list, the CM asked officials to ensure proper scrutiny, besides paying surprise visits to such voters. “Voters’ lists are being prepared. I will tell the DMs and those who are preparing the voters’ list, and especially the divisional commissioners, to see that work is done properly. There are cases where, instead of one name, three names were listed. Identify those who are behind this. I will not say that all are bad. But definitely, there is involvement of insiders,” she said.
“I went to Murshidabad and found that the room meant for voters’ work was vacant. We need to pay surprise visits (to such centres),” she said.
The CM also asked senior police officers about the reasons why Malda witnessed several communal riots, and asked them to raise vigilance to keep a tab on any such development. “Why are there communal riots in Malda? Someone will instigate, and that is their aim… Operation Danga (riot). Why will we fall into that trap? The DMs and SPs will have to keep an eye on this,” she said.
Highlighting heavy rainfall in neighbouring Sikkim and Bhutan that frequently causes flooding in the northern districts of the state, she said the state government has urged the Centre to coordinate with Bhutan on a joint water management mechanism to tackle the situation better. “We must begin disaster management preparations immediately. Communication between northern West Bengal and the rest of the state needs to be strengthened,” Banerjee said.— — With PTI