Don’t allow terrorists to take refuge in West Bengal: CM Mamata Banerjee tells officials

In the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Kashmir and the subsequent India-Pakistan military tension, West Bengal Chief Minister and Home Minister Mamata Banerjee issued a stern warning to police and administrative officials in North Bengal that no extremist elements should be allowed to take refuge in Bengal.

 

On Wednesday, she held an administrative meeting, at Uttarkanya, the state secretariat in North Bengal, when the issues pertaining to border areas were discussed. Addressing officers including in the levels of SPs, ICs, and OCs of North Bengal’s border districts, the chief minister urged them to remain alert.

 

She also advised local residents to stay cautious, warning that outsiders have been entering and collecting personal information such as Aadhar, PAN and Voter card details under false pretenses. She said, “We must remain vigilant and ensure that no terrorist is able to find shelter here, and that no one is able to deceive residents to steal their information.”

 

“Don't share your personal details with anyone. Make sure the person is authentic before doing so,” she added, noting that some of these individuals have already been apprehended, with police action taken in places like Jhargram, Malda, Cooch Behar, Kolkata, and Diamond Harbour.

 

Highlighting the sensitivity of northern districts such as Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and North Dinajpur, which share borders with several countries and include the strategically crucial “Chicken’s Neck”, she reiterated the need for constant alertness.

 

The meeting also brought up the recent incident where a farmer from Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district was reportedly abducted by Bangladeshi miscreants while working on his own land.

 

CM Banerjee also instructed the police and local administration to work efficiently in disaster management in the upcoming monsoon season, citing the geographical location of West Bengal.

 

She compared West Bengal to a boat, explaining how heavy rainfall in Sikkim floods North Bengal, while rain in Jharkhand affects the southern parts of the state. She blamed central neglect, noting that Assam receives funds while West Bengal does not.

 

Additionally, CM Banerjee warned health officials about the spread of counterfeit medicines in West Bengal from Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, urging strict surveillance to prevent their use in government hospitals or sale in pharmacies.

India