‘Inactive’ Centre not stopping cross-border smuggling, says Mamata
Times of India | 22 November 2024
12 Kolkata: Accusing Centre of doing little to stop cross-border smuggling along international as well as inter-state borders, CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asked chief secretary Manoj Pant to take up the issue with Union cabinet and home secretaries. At an administrative meeting in Nabanna, Banerjee urged Centre to focus more on the smuggling around the "Chicken's Neck" in Bengal.
"Centre hasn't been as active as it should be. I don't speak on policies related to external affairs. But I will definitely ask our police to alert Centre. The border is not in our hands, it is Centre's responsibility. Why is Centre not stopping fake currency from entering here," the CM asked.
CM Banerjee said it was not Bengal police's duty to know who was crossing the international borders or using a fake passport. "You cannot pass every duty on to us... I don't know which passport is genuine. It is BSF's duty. What coal is pilfered is under CISF. They have to be very serious. We have sensitive borders... Bengal has to face man-made floods, riots, fake currency, foreign funds, Jamtara...Why?" the CM said.
Banerjee said naka checks were required even in the railways. "We have inputs that arms are reaching Bengal through the railway network," said Banerjee, adding Bengal police had busted 17-18 illegal arms factories in Bihar. The CM proposed that the state's police administration hold meetings with railway officials and Centre over this.
Banerjee on Thursday also alleged that a gang from Jamtara was behind the tab funds siphoning. CM Banerjee told DGP Rajeev Kumar: "Issue instructions to all districts. There will be a nodal officer in each district. Hold a task force meeting." She went on to say: "More than 1,900 accounts were defrauded, amounting to around Rs 2 crore... A Jamtara gang was found involved in the scam. These scamsters usually enter from Jharkhand or Bihar. They get shelter from political parties and set up bases at guest houses. They also frequent the shopping malls where they befriend important members of society."
Banerjee's comments came barely hours after Bengal Police arrested a 34-year-old Bihar man, in the tab funds probe. Burdwan Police arrested Kishanganj accused Rabindra Prasad Singh in Siliguri. He was brought to Burdwan on a transit remand. So far, 28 arrests have been made across the state.