CM asks Darjeeling Police to pull up their socks

The Chief Minister on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction over the functioning of the police department in the Darjeeling Hills. The CM made it amply clear that if they failed to pull up their socks then she would be compelled to intervene. She stated that the administration had to ensure peaceful civic polls in the Hills.

Addressing an administrative meeting of the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts at Pintail Village on the outskirts of Siliguri on Wednesday, Mamata Banerjee stated "People of both the Hills and plains want democracy, good governance and peace. It is our duty to ensure peace. For this, the police have to be proactive. We have to ensure that the civic polls in the Hills pass off peacefully."

The state government could create the post of an Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) to look after the law and order in Kurseong and Mirik. An ASP (headquarters) post already exists in the district along with a Sub-Divisional Police Officer posted in Kurseong. When Mirik is upgraded into a sub- division from March 30, the new ASP could be posted in Kurseong with the SDPO deputed in Mirik.

Incidentally, elections to the Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik and Kalimpong municipalities could be held in the month of May. Elections to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and the Panchayats are also scheduled to be held this year.

"Criminals are roaming around freely. They have to be put behind bars. Pending arrest warrants have to be served. Vigilance in border areas has to be beefed up. If you can't do this I will be compelled to take action" warned Mamata Banerjee.

The CM invited proposals from the police for bettering policing activities in the Hills. "We receive proposals from other districts except for Darjeeling. The existing policing infrastructure will be improved" added the CM.

Banerjee assured that hill polls will be held in a peaceful and democratic environment. "We will take all necessary measures to ensure this" added Banerjee.

The tardy implementation of the Kanyashree scheme of the Government of West Bengal in the Darjeeling district also irked the CM. Under Kanyashree Prakalpa an unmarried girl child between 13 to 18 and studying in any recognised school in class VIII/IX/XI/XII will get an annual scholarship of Rs. 750 if the annual income of her family is up to Rs. 1,20,000.

If an unmarried girl between the age of 18 and 19 continues with her education or pursues a vocational course or sports training and if annual income of her parents is up to Rs. 1,20,000, she is eligible for a one-time grant of Rs. 25,000 under this scheme.

There are around 33 lakh girls enrolled in this scheme in 2016. "While other districts have more than 80% implementation rate, Darjeeling has around 38% enrollment. The district administration has to do the needful to better this" stated Banerjee.

Reacting to the CM's statement GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri remarked: "The CM is aware that the TMC will face defeat in the Hill civic polls, therefore, she is trying to use the police to silence the opposition parties."Amitava Banerjee

Darjeeling: The Chief Minister on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction over the functioning of the police department in the Darjeeling Hills. The CM made it amply clear that if they failed to pull up their socks then she would be compelled to intervene. She stated that the administration had to ensure peaceful civic polls in the Hills.

Addressing an administrative meeting of the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts at Pintail Village on the outskirts of Siliguri on Wednesday, Mamata Banerjee stated "People of both the Hills and plains want democracy, good governance and peace. It is our duty to ensure peace. For this, the police have to be proactive. We have to ensure that the civic polls in the Hills pass off peacefully."

The state government could create the post of an Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) to look after the law and order in Kurseong and Mirik. An ASP (headquarters) post already exists in the district along with a Sub-Divisional Police Officer posted in Kurseong. When Mirik is upgraded into a sub- division from March 30, the new ASP could be posted in Kurseong with the SDPO deputed in Mirik.

Incidentally, elections to the Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik and Kalimpong municipalities could be held in the month of May. Elections to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and the Panchayats are also scheduled to be held this year.

"Criminals are roaming around freely. They have to be put behind bars. Pending arrest warrants have to be served. Vigilance in border areas has to be beefed up. If you can't do this I will be compelled to take action" warned Mamata Banerjee.

The CM invited proposals from the police for bettering policing activities in the Hills. "We receive proposals from other districts except for Darjeeling. The existing policing infrastructure will be improved" added the CM.

Banerjee assured that hill polls will be held in a peaceful and democratic environment. "We will take all necessary measures to ensure this" added Banerjee.

The tardy implementation of the Kanyashree scheme of the Government of West Bengal in the Darjeeling district also irked the CM. Under Kanyashree Prakalpa an unmarried girl child between 13 to 18 and studying in any recognised school in class VIII/IX/XI/XII will get an annual scholarship of Rs. 750 if the annual income of her family is up to Rs. 1,20,000.

If an unmarried girl between the age of 18 and 19 continues with her education or pursues a vocational course or sports training and if annual income of her parents is up to Rs. 1,20,000, she is eligible for a one-time grant of Rs. 25,000 under this scheme.

There are around 33 lakh girls enrolled in this scheme in 2016. "While other districts have more than 80% implementation rate, Darjeeling has around 38% enrollment. The district administration has to do the needful to better this" stated Banerjee.

Reacting to the CM's statement GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri remarked: "The CM is aware that the TMC will face defeat in the Hill civic polls, therefore, she is trying to use the police to silence the opposition parties."