Ensure there are no riots during Mohan Bhagwat visit, orders Bengal CM

Mamata stresses on the need for proper intelligence gathering so that untoward incidents could be avoided

Mohan Bhagwat: File picture

Anshuman Phadikar, Snehamoy Chakraborty   |   TT  |  Calcutta   |    18.05.22 : Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday sent out multiple messages on several aspects to civil and police administrations and to her colleagues in the Trinamul Congress.

Although the chief minister sent the messages during an administrative review meeting of West Midnapore district, the directives are applicable for the entire state.

Law and order: Mamata asked police officers to keep tabs on events in and visits of political or influential persons to their areas while referring to the upcoming arrival of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in West Mindapore’s Keshiyari.

“Where is the IC (inspector-in-charge) of Keshiyari? The RSS chief will be visiting your areas on May 19 and 20. Why is he coming? Please see that there are no riots,” said the chief minister.

“You can send him some flowers and sweets to convey a message that we (people of Bengal) always welcome our guests…. But do not go too far,” she said with a smirk.

Senior police officers said Mamata’s message in reference to Bhagwat was intended for law enforcers across Bengal as she stressed the need for proper intelligence gathering so that untoward incidents could be avoided.

In the wake of increasing thefts and illegal activities at Kharagpur in West Midnapore, the chief minister asked the police to cover the entire town with CCTV cameras. She told DGP Manoj Malaviya to take care of the proposal of CCTV surveillance at other places, too.

Mamata directed the DIGs and IGs to stay in districts and avoid spending time in Calcutta.

“I received complaints that many DIGs and IGs stay in Calcutta and visit the districts during my trip or several hours after any incident.… I will not tolerate this. You may go to Calcutta once in a fortnight but you have to stay in your place of posting,” said Mamata.

The chief minister expressed concern over smuggling of illegal arms into Bengal from bordering Bihar and Jharkhand.

“It has become a new practice of buying a gun with Rs 2,000 and firing randomly here and there. The guns are coming from Jharkhand and Bihar as you know there are manufacturing units of illegal arms in Bihar. Railway stations and trains should be checked. I have doubts whether the GRP (government railway police) properly performs its duty,” she said.

Swasthya Sathi: Mamata asked people to lodge FIRs against private hospitals or nursing homes if they declined Swasthya Sathi cards.

At her administrative review meeting, a representative of Lodha tribe community, Balai Nayak, complained that a nursing home in the district didn’t accept Swasthya Sathi card on the pretext that it wasn’t renewed. She asked the health secretary whether there was any need for such a renewal. The health secretary has replied that there is no such provision.

“If any nursing home refuses to accept Swasthya Sathi cards, you lodge a complaint with police and the SP will send it to the health secretary through the DGP. You may lodge a complaint with a toll-free number available on the card and let the government take proper action. If they (the authorities of nursing homes or private hospitals) lie on the renewal of any Swasthya Sathi card, I will cancel their licence,” said the chief minister.

Corruption: Mamata asked Trinamul workers to avoid involvement with any type of corruption.

She was visibly angry over recent felling of 5,000 trees illegally by a gram panchayat in West Midnapore’s Garbeta.

The chief minister clearly said she would not spare anyone involved in such corruption. “Who is accused of felling trees in Garbeta? I will ask forest officers, police and the district magistrate to take action against those involved in tree felling. A section of forest officers, along with local police, are involved in such practice. I will not tolerate it if anyone tries to destroy the natural assets …. I think you (looking at Trinamul leaders) have understood what I meant.”

She also asked the West Midnapore police chief Dinesh Kumar whether illegal sand mining had stopped under his jurisdiction.