Will bring in law to make vandals pay cost of destruction of property: Mamata

Kolkata: Warning against wanton destruction of public property in the name of agitation, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced that her government would bring in a legislation under which the vandals would have to pay the cost of the property damaged.

"Those damaging public or private property will have to pay the compensation. If necessary, money will be recovered by confiscating their property. We will bring in a legislation to this effect in the next session of the Assembly," she said while inaugurating "Khadya Sathi Dibas" and Police Investiture Ceremony at a function here.

"Before burning a government vehicle or damaging public property, one should think. They should think from where the money will come," Banerjee said, adding "don't take law into your hand. It is not correct in a democracy."

"If you have any grievance against police or anybody, let us know. The state government will act. The government is there for you. It will give you justice," she said.

Her statement came in the wake of recent violence at Bhangar where a number of police vehicles were burnt and damaged.

The Chief Minister urged the people to ignore and isolate the destructive elements who are trying to disturb the peace in the state.

Without naming anyone, she said some political parties were trying to incite violence and riots. "Bengal will not tolerate it."

"It is not the task of a political party to create disturbance. The state government will take stern action," Banerjee said.

"There is a section who never work in people's interest and keep themselves busy in filing only PIL on all issues due to some vested or political interest," she said.

"If people think that they could escape after writing a provocative post in the social media, they would not be successful.

"Police under the Cyber Crime section are keeping a tab on them and what they are doing in social media," she said.

Giving away medals to police personnel for their courage and gallantry at the police investiture ceremony, the Chief Minister lauded the force for their initiative in maintaining law and order to ensure peace and harmony in the state.