Kolkata, 07 November (H.S.) : West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari delivered a stern and unequivocal message to the state police force, granting them a free hand to decisively tackle crimes against women and drug-related offenses. Assuring his unwavering support, the Chief Minister stated that he would personally act as a shield for the police should they face any hurdles while addressing these critical issues. Furthermore, he issued a stern warning that any individual assaulting a police officer would face mandatory imprisonment, and those found destroying public property would be heavily penalized, having to pay three times the cost of the damages.

The Chief Minister made these remarks on Saturday while handing over appointment letters to 309 newly recruited Sub-Inspectors (SIs) during a special ceremony held at the Kolkata Police Headquarters in Lalbazar. Addressing the young officers, Adhikari emphasized the core values of 'Nation First' and uncompromising honesty. He instructed the new recruits to always prioritize the nation regardless of the circumstances, strictly follow the directives of their superiors, maintain unwavering discipline, perform their duties without watching the clock, and execute their responsibilities in strict adherence to the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

During the event, the Chief Minister lauded the challenging role of the state police. He highlighted that policing in West Bengal-a state with a population of 11 crore and vast geographical diversity spanning from the northern mountains to Junglemahal and isolated islands- is a highly complex task. He commended the force for effectively maintaining law and order and normalizing public life amidst such diverse languages, cultures, and topographies.

Acknowledging that police personnel had been deprived of adequate facilities and financial security in previous years, Adhikari assured that his government is fully committed to safeguarding their financial well-being. Focusing on the modernization and advanced training of the police force, he announced that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with the Assam Police Training Camp. Additionally, a crucial decision has been made to enhance operational coordination between the state police and central security agencies.

Addressing the current manpower shortage within the department, the Chief Minister noted that while 11,000 recruitments have already been completed, 46,000 posts still remain vacant across the state. He assured that these vacancies would be filled in a phased manner. Looking ahead, Adhikari announced upcoming recruitment drives that will induct 6,345 female police personnel across the state and 4,000 constables specifically for the Kolkata Police. He promised that large-scale recruitments will take place in the coming months, with fresh hiring processes scheduled to begin between December and January, alongside upcoming recruitments in the Forest and Fire departments.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh