Kolkata, 19 July (H.S.): Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Sunday chaired a high-level review meeting on the law and order situation in West Bengal at Kolkata. The meeting was attended by the Chief Minister, the State Chief Secretary, and senior officials of the Union Home Ministry and the West Bengal Government. Discussions focused on strengthening women's safety, internal security, police modernization, cyber security, and border management.

During the meeting, Shah directed the state government to launch a Women's Outreach Programme with special emphasis on ensuring the safety of women in rural areas. He asked officials to maintain regular interaction with rural women to spread awareness and empower them. He also assured that the Union Home Ministry would extend all necessary assistance to the state for implementing the initiative.

To further strengthen internal security, the Home Minister stressed the need to establish a Special Investigation Agency (SIA) on the lines of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). It was also decided that the NIA would conduct a comprehensive review of all terrorism-related and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) cases linked to West Bengal. Shah further directed the removal of illegal encroachments on government land in border areas.

The Home Minister assured adequate budgetary support for the modernization of the West Bengal Police, strengthening infrastructure, and improving public service delivery. He emphasized reviewing the police cadre to bring its strength in line with the national average, rationalizing police districts, filling all vacant posts within a fixed timeline, enhancing training infrastructure, reducing dependence on civic volunteers in a phased manner, and prioritizing the recruitment of constables.

The meeting also agreed to convert one-third of the security camps established in former Left Wing Extremism-affected areas into public service centres to improve access to government services for local residents.

Shah further directed officials to strengthen cyber security capabilities, hold regular NCORD meetings to combat narcotics, and prepare a comprehensive flood management plan for Kolkata. The meeting concluded with instructions to all concerned agencies to ensure time-bound implementation of the identified priority measures.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh