Kolkata, Nov 7 West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday blamed the previous TMC regime for alleged shortcomings, including lack of infrastructure, logistics and professionalism in the state police force and asserted that his government was taking steps to address them through modernisation, better training and large-scale recruitment.
Addressing an event at the Kolkata Police headquarters, where he handed over appointment letters to 309 recruits, Adhikari said police personnel had “no financial security” during the Trinamool Congress rule.
“Bengal Police are lagging in infrastructure, logistics, professionalism and training. If the previous governments had taken steps to upgrade the police force continuously, the current dispensation would not have faced such problems,” Adhikari said.
“Several thousand police personnel did not have financial security. They were deprived of 42 per cent dearness allowance (DA). Even after the Seventh Pay Commission was implemented across the country, they did not receive its benefits,” the chief minister said.
Adhikari said his government had taken up several programmes and signed MoUs with organisations to provide training to police personnel and on modernising the force.
“Steps will be taken towards modernisation and training of the police. For this, an MoU has been signed with the Assam Police Training Centre. We have also decided to strengthen coordination between the state police and the Centre,” he said.
Adhikari said policing in West Bengal was particularly challenging given its large population of around 11 crore and geographical and cultural diversity.
“There are different languages, dresses and food habits. On one side are the hills, and on the other is Jangalmahal, besides several isolated islands. The police work to maintain normalcy in public life. For a long time, they did not receive any facilities or benefits and lacked financial security. Now, financial security will be provided to the police force,” he said.
The chief minister also acknowledged that the state was lagging behind in police recruitment and announced that several vacant posts would be filled in phases.
“Recruitment of 11,000 personnel has already been completed in the state police. At present, around 46,000 posts are lying vacant. These will be filled gradually,” he said.
Adhikari announced that 6,345 women police personnel would be recruited, while 4,000 constables would be appointed to the Kolkata Police.
“We will undertake large-scale recruitment in the police force over the next few months. Further recruitment will take place in December-January,” he said.
The chief minister also assured recruitment in the forest department and fire services, adding that appointments would be made in other uniformed services, including the forest department, fire brigade and excise department.
“During our tenure, recruitment will be conducted through the Police Recruitment Board. We will not provide anyone an opportunity to approach the court. Everything will be done transparently, based on merit and in accordance with our recruitment rules,” he said.
Issuing a stern warning against attacks on police personnel, Adhikari said anyone assaulting a policeman and causing bloodshed would face strict action.
“From now on, if anyone lays a hand on a policeman and blood is shed, whoever the person may be, a custodial trial will be ensured,” he said.
Adhikari reiterated that the state police and Kolkata Police had been given a completely free hand and operational independence to ensure social security and the safety of women.
Explaining the legal hurdles that had affected police recruitment in the state, Adhikari referred to a Calcutta High Court judgment concerning the inclusion of 78 communities in the OBC list by the previous government.
“In February 2024, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court had ruled that the inclusion of 78 communities in the OBC list by the then state government, beyond the list approved by the National Commission for Backward Classes, was illegal. The judgment came after 10 years of hearings. The previous government did not accept it and approached the Supreme Court,” he said.
Adhikari alleged that the chairman of the Police Recruitment Board (PRB) had also been constrained by the legal complications.
“The PRB chairman’s hands were tied. Even if he wanted to do something, there was no way forward. After our government came to power, we amended the OBC law in the Assembly and withdrew the case from the court. We resolved those complications, which is why we are now able to carry out the recruitment,” he said.
The chief minister said the recruitment process currently underway through the West Bengal Police Recruitment Board, with Cabinet approval, would cover 27,556 posts, including 6,345 positions for women.
He reiterated that the government would ensure transparency and merit-based appointments in all recruitment exercises.
At Saturday’s programme, appointment letters were handed over to 309 sub-inspectors of the Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar. Out of them, 303 joined the West Bengal Police force after completing all verification formalities.
(PTI News)
