Mamata urges police to remain alert for chicken’s neck 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has directed administrative and police officials in the northern part of the state to remain vigilant for cross-border threats in the strategically sensitive region.

Banerjee, who is on a three-day tour of north Bengal, stressed the strategic importance of the 'Chicken's neck' corridor that connects the northeast with the rest of the country.

The Bengal CM was addressing an administrative review meeting on Wednesday.

Banerjee told police personnel to increase patrolling in their respective areas.

She also directed the SPs in the bordering district areas to be vigilant.

“You have to be vigilant. The borders are very sensitive, and several plans are being hatched. The SPs and OCs cannot sit idle, thinking that it is the responsibility of the BSF. Earlier, police used to go on patrol several times regularly, now you will hardly see any such activity. The more you move around in police vans, people will know that you are there,” she said.

She said the districts in North Bengal sharing international borders with Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh are ‘very sensitive’ region.

“I have heard that several outsiders from Assam and other neighbouring states are entering the state. They are noting down every personal detail from the common man as well as those of senior officers. I will ask my officers to be alert so that no terrorist can take shelter anywhere in Bengal. Do not share any information other than those who are authorised for this job,” Banerjee said.

“There are several arrests in this connection. We have arrested people from Jhargram, Malda, Coochbehar, Kolkata, Diamond Harbour and several other places in Bengal. They are roaming around here,” she said.

The Bengal CM also asked senior police officers about the reasons why Malda witnessed several communal riots, and asked them to raise vigilance to keep a tab on any such development.

“Why are there communal riots in Malda? Someone will instigate, and that is his job... Operation Danga (riot). Why will we fall into that trap? The DMs and SPs will have to keep an eye on this,” she said.

Banerjee also said that heavy rainfall in neighbouring Sikkim and Bhutan often leads to flooding in the northern districts of the state.

She said the state government has requested the Centre to coordinate with Bhutan for a joint water management mechanism to tackle the situation better.

She also spoke about development activities and expediting pending projects in North Bengal.