The Union Home Ministry recently increased the jurisdiction of BSF from 15 km to 50 km. have make
Referring to the violence in Nagaland, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday directed police officers in some border districts of the state not to allow Border Security Force personnel to enter settlements without permission.
“BSF is allowed 15 km, that too with the permission of the police, but they are going wherever they want. You all must have seen what happened in Nagaland. You have to be very careful. I do not want any confrontation,” the chief minister said while attending the administrative meeting for Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur districts in north Bengal.
Ms Banerjee said BSF is entering settlements in Murshidabad, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur districts. Emphasizing on law and order as a state subject, Ms Banerjee said that in case of such complaints the local block development officers as well as the inspector-in-charge of the local police station “should tell them that this is not your jurisdiction”. .
The chief minister also referred to the violence in Setalkuchi during the West Bengal assembly elections earlier this year, where central forces opened fire at a polling booth and three attempts to thwart cattle smuggling in the recent Cooch Behar incident. People were shot and killed.
State Director General of Police Manoj Malviya said he has spoken to BSF officials and the West Bengal Police is refusing to allow BSF requests to enter settlements.
The West Bengal Chief Minister’s remark assumes significance due to the recent notification of the Union Home Ministry, where it has increased the BSF’s jurisdiction from 15 km to 50 km. The West Bengal Assembly passed a resolution urging the Center to withdraw the notification. Ms Banerjee had raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting last month. West Bengal shares a border of about 2216 km with Bangladesh, which is protected by three BSF borders.
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