There is sufficient police force in the Hills, says Mamata

MP, 18 October 2017: Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday has confirmed that there is sufficient police force in the Hills and they are working in proper coordination with the central forces.

"In usual times, around 1,000 police personnel remain posted in the Hills and at present, there are an additional 2,500 police personnel. So all total, there are around 3,500 police personnel in the Hills," the Chief Minister said in Nabanna on Wednesday adding that the claim of not utilising the central armed police forces is incorrect and such claims have no relevance. She further maintained that there is police force more than the requirement.

It may be mentioned that the state government had reacted sharply to the decision of the Centre to withdrawing paramilitary forces from the Hills when the former is leaving no stone unturned to restore peace in the Hills.

The state had received a letter from the Centre on Sunday stating that 10 out of 15 companies of paramilitary forces will be withdrawn from the Hills from October 16. Finally, after the Chief Minister spoke to Union Home minister Rajnath Singh, the Centre has decided to withdraw seven companies of paramilitary forces.

However, on Tuesday, the Calcutta high court ordered a stay on withdrawal of the paramilitary forces from the Hills and the next hearing on this is scheduled on October 27.