Concerned on smuggling of cows: Mamata Banerjee asks police to increase vigilance in North 24 Parganas

Banerjee also announced formation of two new police districts — Basirhat and Barasat — in the district to intensify policing and ensuring quick intervention in case of law and order problems. “We will create two new police districts — Barasat and Basirhat — in this district. A senior SP will be at the top and two other young SPs will work under him because there have been problems in this district periodically,” she said.

The chief minister directed the DGP to clear the paperwork soon, so that declaration on the two police districts could be made at the earliest. Last year, clashes had broken out between members of two communities at Baduria in Basirhat sub-division of North 24 Parganas district over an alleged objectionable Facebook post by a young man, who was arrested.

A senior official in the state home department said the administration had a tough time in tackling the violence at Baduria because of the vastness of the district. BSF had to be called in as mobilising state police force was very difficult due to blockades on Barasat-Bongaon and Barasat-Basirhat sections.

According to a senior police official, the move to form the two new police districts in North 24 Parganas would “definitely ensure better communication and fast response by the police force in case of any emergency regarding law and order situation”. Last year, the government had created three new police districts — south industrial, Baruipur and Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas district. Jhargram police district in West Midnapore was created soon after Banerjee came to power in 2011. It became a district last year.