Kolkata: Contrary to expectations of the
Trinamool Congress, the Central team today avoided going to
violence-hit areas in West Bengal as it had demanded, but
submitted a "suggestion" to the government.
The "suggestion" handed over to the government by the
team despatched by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram at the
insistence of the Trinamool Congress, a major ally of the UPA,
"might be related to better maintenance of law and order in
affected areas", officials said.
The team, headed by Additional Secretary (Home) D R S
Chowdhury, held a meeting with magistrates and police
superintendents of nine violence-affected districts at the
state secretariat -- Writers' Buildings.
The team met DMs and SPs of Hooghly, West and East
Midnapore, South and North 24-Parganas, Burdwan, Darjeeling,
Birbhum and Bankura and discussed law and order, Maoist
violence, the problem in Darjeeling and in the Dooars.
The team, which held three meetings with top state
officials also met Chief Secretary Asok Mohan Chakraborty for
a "wrap-up". Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen and Director-General
of Police Bhupinder Singh were present.
Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee was briefed
about the meetings by the chief secretary.
There was no official briefing.
’Upgrade technology for police’
Among the suggestions given by
the team was the upgrading of technology and an
increase in the strength of the police.
"They suggested introduction of better technology for
gathering more information in Maoist-affected areas and
increased manpower in the police force," Ardhendu Sen said.
"Modern technology introduced in other Maoist-hit
states yielded better results," Sen said.
The state government, Sen said, informed the team that
the suggestions for better functioning of the police force in
Maoist-hit areas would require Rs 60 crore to implement.
"The Central team asked state officials about the sum
required for implementing the suggestions and took note of
it," he said.
-PTI
First Published: Wednesday, December 02, 2009, 21:12