Do not play the communal card, Mamata warns MLAs

“The government is determined to stop cattle smuggling and I will request the MLAs not to play the communal card to stop the move. The government will take action against the persons involved in smuggling irrespective of their caste or religion.”

It may be mentioned that in a meeting of the Trinamool Congress held on Saturday, Banerjee had made it clear that those involved in cattle smuggling would be thrown out of the party. She said in the past five years, no major incidents like those in Nandigram, Netai, Singur, Bantala or Saibari had taken place in West Bengal and this showed that the law and order situation had improved in the state.

She added that during the CPI(M) regime people could not register their complaints at the police stations and not a single leader of the party responsible for such incidents had been arrested. “In the past five years, Shambhunath Kaw was arrested and is still behind bars and Arabul (Islam) was arrested and later released. I have asked my party leaders and workers not to intervene in the functioning of the police,” she said.

Banerjee said the law and order situation in Jangalmahal and Darjeeling had improved and congratulated the residents for maintaining peace. She said that the activities of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation in north Bengal had effectively been brought out under control.

Supporting the appointment of city police commissioner Rajiv Kumar, the Chief Minister said “Rajiv is one of the finest police officer I have seen. It is because of him around five lakh people who had invested in chit funds have got their money back.

“We have returned the money of the investors. But CPI(M), which is talking big now, did not return a single paisa to the investors of Sanchaita,” she added. Banerjee said now the law had empowered the state government to take action against chit funds and connections of leaders with chit funds should be unearthed.

She said a good law and order situation might turn bad following a small incident and so it was necessary to keep vigil at all times. “The legislators should cooperate with the police to maintain law and order. The duty of the policemen has gone up several times. They have to look after cyber crime, maintain law and order, maintain peace during festivals and at the same time catch dacoits and so cooperation from all sections of people is required to maintain peace in society,” said Banerjee.

The Chief Minister said in some television shows, violence was being glorified and this could cause a negative impact on the minds of children. She urged television channels and newspapers to be more responsible and not to sensationalise news. “Panic is being spread through social media. Earlier, pictures of dead bodies covered with blood were not printed in newspapers. But now this rule is not followed. We all should play a more responsible role,” she remarked.

Banerjee noted that 44 women police stations had been set up in the state in the past five years. The five new commissionerates, 12 traffic guards, two cyber cells were functioning well. 

A cyber lab, under the detective department of city police, had also been set up to prevent cyber crime. The state government has set up 51 women courts, 88 fast track courts, 11 CBI courts and one family court comprising two benches for speedy disposal of cases.