CM Mamata Banerjee pulls up Darjeeling cops

Kolkata: Expressing her disappointment over the criminal activities in Darjeeling, chief minister Mamata Banerjee pulled up the district police at an administrative meeting in Pintail on Wednesday, over the deterioration of law and order on the eve of municipal elections.

Directing the district’s superintendent of police Amit P. Javalgi to ensure smooth law and order she also warned of action if the police failed in its job, according to sources.

Chief secretary Basudeb Banerjee and state home secretary Moloy De were present at the meeting. Sources revealed that the chief minister wondered how criminals could enter Darjeeling and could roam freely.

She observed that the police was not taking it seriously although complaints were filed at different police stations, sources added. She instructed the police to launch a crackdown on the criminals against whom warrants are pending. Besides, she also stressed on surveillance along the border and on outsiders with suspected movements, the purpose of their visits, and the places they are staying, sources disclosed. Ms Banerjee also directed the police to identify isolated places, sources added.

She later said, “The Hills have remained peaceful. The people want peace in democracy. Democracy does not mean violence. We and the people of the Hills would be very happy with peace here. The people here always want peace and progress. So our aim is to maintain peace here and in the plains.”

The district may get another additional SP to ensure security at Mirik and Kurseong, sources hinted. Meanwhile, controversy broke when women and child development and social welfare department secretary Roshni Sen, an IAS officer, was subjected to frisking by the security personnel when she came to attend the meeting.