The West Bengal government on Saturday dissolved the Police Welfare Board, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari alleging that the body had turned into a “political party’s frontal organisation” and was being used for granting “illegal extension” of service to some individuals.
Adhikari further said attacks on police personnel would not be tolerated under any circumstances and stressed the need for strict enforcement of law and order.
“Earlier, there was the law of the rulers; now there is the rule of law,” he said after chairing an administrative review meeting at Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas district.
“The Police Welfare Board was constituted with a good intention, but eventually it became a party’s frontal organisation. I do not know how that helped in the welfare of the police, but it became a place for getting illegal extension of employment. Some people have personally benefited. Today, we are dissolving the board,” he said.
The chief minister said the official order dissolving the board would be issued on Monday, adding that a new welfare mechanism would be constituted within three months after consultations with retired police officers and associations.
He said a committee under the chief secretary would prepare a proposal for cabinet approval.
Adhikari alleged that the police administration in recent years had functioned in an “atmosphere of fear” and said discipline had suffered.
“There was no system. A PA of an MP used to instruct OCs and ICs, and actions were taken. SPs came to know about certain actions only a day later,” he alleged.
He said people who had allegedly suffered political persecution, custodial torture or extortion in the past five years could file fresh complaints at police stations.
Adhikari added that complaints related to illegal detention, custodial torture, harassment of women and alleged payment of “cut money” for government schemes would be examined.
He said electronic records, including PayTM transactions and RTGS or NEFT transfers, would be accepted as evidence in extortion-related complaints.
He asked police to remain vigilant against infiltration through riverine tracts of the international border with Bangladesh.
Reiterating his government’s stand against extortion, Adhikari said the collection of illegal money from auto-rickshaw and toto (e-rickshaw) drivers must stop immediately.
“From now on, nobody will be paying cut money or illegal tolls,” he said, directing the police to act on complaints and take necessary legal action against those involved in extortion rackets.
The CM also announced that women police personnel would, as far as possible, be posted in or near their home districts as part of a welfare measure.
“We have women police officers and constables. I have requested the DGP not to transfer them far from home and to their neighbouring districts. This is a welfare measure. In general, one woman police personnel from Alipurduar could be transferred to Uttar Dinajpur or Siliguri but not in Purulia or Bankura,” he said.
“The DGP and the home secretary have been asked to prepare a proposal so that those who have completed more than 15 years in service can be shifted closer to their home districts,” he said.
Referring to Friday night’s incidents of violence in Asansol, Adhikari said 15 arrests had been made in connection with attacks on a police outpost and warned that the cost of damaged public property would be recovered from the accused.
On Friday night, a mob allegedly hurled stones and vandalised the Jahangiri Mohalla police station after police had asked the mosque authorities to lower the volume of the loudspeaker after receiving a complaint.
The CM also directed police to strictly implement recent government orders relating to illegal slaughterhouses, sound pollution, unauthorised toll collection and illegal sand and coal mining, while ensuring that enforcement measures were carried out peacefully and after proper public outreach.
“The orders issued last week should be implemented. There is nothing to implement them hurriedly. Take (your) time, two weeks, three weeks or one month, but at least start it (implementation of the orders). Do it with peace. Talk to people, bring them in a line, brief them properly and if needed, translate the circular in Bengali, or in Nepali for the Hill region or if necessary, in Hindi, but correct the system,” he said.
Adhikari also said he would request the chief secretary and home secretary to seek an extension of the deployment of CAPF personnel in the state beyond the scheduled two-month period, citing a shortage of manpower.
“I will request the CS and HS to extend the stay of the CAPF beyond the two months they are scheduled to remain here. They should stay here,” he said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during one of his campaigns for the assembly polls in Bengal, had said 500 companies of CAPF would extend their stay in the state for 60 days after the election, primarily to keep a check on the post-poll violence.
Asked about a threat mail received at Bhowanipore police station regarding a possible attack on him, Adhikari expressed confidence in the state police and CID.
“Police here are very efficient. CID officers were not utilised properly, though they are competent. Officers were misused earlier,” he said.
Referring to additional CP-IV of Kolkata Police, V Solomon Nesakumar, who earlier in the day held the press conference, Adhikari said, “I have seen him talking to the media on YouTube. Nesakumar is very competent. I know him from his tenure as the SP of Purba Medinipore.”
Kolkata Police Special Task Force (STF) arrested a man from Kolkata’s Garden Reach area for allegedly sending an email to the police threatening a suicide bomb attack on the Bengal CM “with the help of terror outfit Al Qaeda”.
The email sender claimed that a suicide attack would be carried out on the CM with the help of Al Qaeda.
