Kolkata, Jun 17 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday announced a series of measures aimed at modernising the state’s police force after his government signed an MoU with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) at the state secretariat.
The agreement with RRU, which functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is expected to facilitate specialised training and capacity-building programmes for personnel of the West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police in emerging areas of law enforcement and internal security.
Following the signing of the MoU, Adhikari said the initiative would help restore professional excellence in the police force through advanced scientific and technological training.
“Police efficiency in Bengal was once regarded very highly and was compared with some of the best forces in the world. However, the previous government failed to utilise that capability and did not provide the modern equipment and support required for effective policing,” the chief minister said.
He alleged that RRU had first proposed such an agreement with the state government in November 2025, but no decision was taken at the time.
“Unfortunately, the previous government neglected this important proposal. Most states, including Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Haryana, have already entered into similar agreements with the university. This MoU will help both the West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police benefit from advanced training and modern policing practices,” Adhikari said.
Recalling the legacy of Kolkata Police, he said, “There was a time when Kolkata Police was compared with Scotland Yard (the headquarters of the London Metropolitan Police) and recognised internationally for its professionalism. The wrong policies of the previous government eroded that prestige.” Adhikari said the training programmes under the MoU would cover subjects such as cybercrime, the dark web, artificial intelligence, forensic science, border intelligence and prevention of human trafficking.
According to him, officers ranging from IPS cadre to inspectors and sub-inspectors will participate in the programmes, while students will also be able to access selected courses.
The CM further said that manpower shortages had affected police performance and widened the gap between public expectations and service delivery.
“We are taking steps to recruit more personnel and ensure transparency in the recruitment process,” he said.
Announcing measures to strengthen the force, the chief minister said all vacant positions in the police department would be filled at the earliest.
He added that around 16,000 constables who have completed their training are expected to be inducted into active service soon.
The state government also plans to introduce the emergency response support system ‘112’ across all police stations to improve response times during law-and-order situations and emergencies.
Referring to recent attacks on police personnel across the state, Adhikari asserted that the government would prioritise the safety of officers on duty.
“No police personnel of our state should have to leave for a hospital after being attacked while performing duty. Our goal is to ensure that policemen are protected, respected and equipped to carry out their responsibilities safely,” he said.
The MoU marks a significant step in the state government’s efforts to upgrade policing standards through technology-driven training and institutional collaboration, officials said. PTI SCH NN
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