Mamata urges officials in north Bengal to remain alert for cross-border threats

    Siliguri (WB), May 21 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday directed administrative and police officials in the northern part of the state to remain vigilant for cross-border threats in the strategically sensitive region.
    She said the districts in North Bengal sharing international borders with Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh are "very sensitive" region.
    "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," Banerjee said.
    The Bengal CM was addressing an administrative review meeting here.
    "There are several arrests in this connection. We have arrested people from Jhargram, Malda, Coochbehar, Kolkata, Diamond Harbour and several other places in Bengal. They are roaming around here," she said.
    Banerjee told police personnel to increase patrolling in their respective areas.
    She also directed the SPs in the bordering district areas to be vigilant.
    "You have to be vigilant. The borders are very sensitive, and several plans are being hatched. The SPs and OCs cannot sit idle, thinking that it is the responsibility of the BSF. 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.
    The Bengal CM referred to the alleged abduction of a farmer from Cooch Behar by Bangladeshi nationals.
    "There was an incident when a farmer was abducted while he was working on his farmland. After hearing that, we took immediate action and brought him back.. ," she said.
    She also cautioned officials against the spread of misinformation and fake news.
    The chief minister also raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the preparation of the voters' list and 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 and nobody was there. We need to pay surprise visits (to such centres)," she said.
    The Bengal 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 his job... Operation Danga (riot). Why will we fall into that trap? The DMs and SPs will have to keep an eye on this," she said.
    Banerjee also said that heavy rainfall in neighbouring Sikkim and Bhutan often leads to flooding in the northern districts of the state.
    She said the state government has requested the Centre to coordinate with Bhutan for 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 while instructing officials to form dedicated disaster response teams in each district.
    Banerjee, who is on a three-day tour of north Bengal, stressed the strategic importance of the 'Chicken's neck' corridor that connects the northeast with the rest of the country.
    She also spoke about development activities and expediting pending projects in North Bengal.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)