Kolkata, 12 August (H.S.) — West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday made a surprise entry into a high-level administrative meeting and issued a stern warning to senior police officers over a recent spate of killings of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders and associates.

Over the past two months, the state has witnessed several high-profile murders, including those of Sikandar Khan in Sonamukhi (Bankura), Sanjeev Rai in Cooch Behar, and Pintu Chakraborty in Konnagar. Expressing sharp displeasure, Banerjee told Commissioners of Police (CPs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) that they cannot shift the burden of law and order entirely onto local station house officers (ICs and OCs) to evade accountability. “Senior officers must take full responsibility,” she asserted.

The meeting, chaired virtually by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant under the “Amar Para, Amar Samadhan” (Our Neighbourhood, Our Solution) project, included district magistrates, CPs, and SPs. Banerjee’s sudden intervention changed the tone of the discussion, with the Chief Minister stressing that back-to-back political killings were a serious concern and demanded strict measures at all levels to prevent further incidents.

The Chief Minister also addressed the issue of migrant workers, alleging that in BJP-ruled states, labourers from Bengal were being insulted and branded as “Bangladeshi.” She noted that in the past three weeks, many workers had returned to West Bengal from other states. She directed district officials to ensure that these workers and their families receive immediate support — from school admissions for their children to benefits under schemes like “Swasthya Sathi” and “Krishak Bandhu.” She also instructed that they be brought under the “Karmashree” employment scheme.

Under the “Amar Para, Amar Samadhan” project, each polling booth area has been allocated ₹10 lakh to address public grievances locally. Banerjee urged officials to set up service camps in locations convenient for residents, ensuring that advance notice is given so people can access government schemes easily. She emphasised that senior officers must personally oversee the process and guarantee prompt resolution of issues.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh