Cooch Behar (WB), Sep 22 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday warned of stringent action against anyone involved in assault or harassment of women, saying the police must deal firmly with such offenders.
He also directed the police to take strict action against all those involved in the Sahebganj police station case in Cooch Behar district, in which a minor was allegedly tortured.
“I have given clear instructions that stringent action will be taken against all the culprits. If anyone places a finger on a woman, we will have to break that finger. Police have to take necessary action in this regard,” Adhikari said after an administrative review meeting here.
“We have taken disciplinary action in the Sahebganj Police Station case where a minor was tortured,” Adhikari said, without elaborating.
Adhikari also said the administrative review meeting discussed several district issues, including expanding national highways, railway-related matters, land for the Border Security Force, and road repairs before the Durga Puja festivities.
“We have to secure our borders to secure our motherland. We are giving 210 acres of land to the BSF. We have covered all the areas,” the chief minister said.
He said discussions were also held on a proposed airport and a contract with the Centre.
“Signing of the contract with the Centre regarding the new airport also featured in the meeting,” Adhikari said.
The CM said he would again come to Cooch Behar during the Rash Purnima, a major winter festival in the district.
On welfare schemes, Adhikari said around 5.58 lakh women in the district have benefited from the Annapurna Yojana, while applications were still being received from others.
“We had discussions on PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Jal Jeevan Mission, and Krishak Bandhu,” Adhikari said.
The Bengal CM also reviewed the implementation of Ayushman Bharat in the district and said around 2,000 patients had received treatment under the scheme. He said migrant workers had also availed of its benefits.
“Even around 100 migratory labourers also got the benefit from this,” he said.
Expressing concern over the medical facilities available in Cooch Behar, Adhikari said the district’s medical college did not have a cath lab or a neurologist.
“I am quite shocked to see that there is no cath lab, no neurologist in the Coochbehar Medical College. Left Front was (in power) for 34 years, TMC for 15 years. What had they been doing all these years? How could they neglect?” he said.
Adhikari also said police had been directed to act against those seeking money from beneficiaries.
“If someone demands money from any beneficiary, then the person will be sent to jail,” he said.
He said coal smuggling from neighbouring Assam had been stopped and police had been asked to maintain strict vigil.
“I have told the police to take strict action. Though it is stopped now, no illegal coal should be smuggled into the state from Assam,” he said.
The chief minister also directed officials not to allow any syndicate, an agency often backed by politicians to forcefully supply construction materials at inflated rates.
“Syndicates will not be allowed to function. All illegal drugs will have to be burnt. Those involved should be arrested under the NDPS Act. Neshamukta Abhijan should be carried out,” he said. PTI SCH NN
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