CBI's loss is Bengal's gain: role for Mitra

TT, Calcutta: Rina Mitra, who was bumped out of consideration for the CBI director's post because the selection meeting was deferred to the day just after her retirement, has been appointed the principal adviser to the Bengal government on internal security.

"An order to appoint Mitra as the principal adviser to the state government on internal security was issued by the home department on Tuesday…. The responsibilities of the newly created post are yet to be defined," said a senior government official.

Contacted, Mitra said on Tuesday evening: "I am yet to receive the order. So, I am not aware of the responsibilities yet. But I think it will be related to internal security. Once I receive the order, I will take over the responsibilities with- in the next few days." Mitra, a 1983-batch Mad- hya Pradesh-cadre IPS officer, is the first woman IPS officer from Bengal.

Sources said that although the responsibilities were yet to be defined, Mitra would most probably report directly to ch- ief minister Mamata Banerjee. "We heard that Mitra might be requested to advise the chief minister on rearranging security arrangements to make the law enforcing agencies stronger in Bengal," said a source.

The appointment became a point of discussion in the state administrative headquarters, Nabanna, through the day.

The affairs of internal security, which comes under the home department, are looked after directly by the chief minister who already has an adviser.

"A post of state security adviser has already been created. As SSA, former DGP Surajit Kar Purkayastha is enjoying sweeping authority over security and law-enforcement agencies. Traditionally, these were responsibilities of the home secretary and the DGP," said a senior IPS officer in the state.