‘Political police’ in West Bengal, says Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar. (Photo source: ANI)

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar has once again hit out at the state police over security environment in the state and said that it acts under political influence. “Al Qaeda poses a great threat as it is spreading in the state. Illegal bomb-making is widespread and the security environment is under threat. The position of the Director General of Police (DGP) in the state is an open secret. That is why I say there’s ‘political police in West Bengal,” Dhankhar told media persons in the national capital.

The West Bengal Governor was in Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The meeting comes a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had an hour-long unscheduled meeting with the Governor at the Raj Bhavan.

While no formal information has been shared about the issues to be discussed by the Governor with the Union Home Minister, sources said that the meeting will be likely on the political situation in the poll-bound state. Assembly elections are scheduled in the state in a few months.

Security environment (in WB) is under threat. Al Qaeda is spreading, illegal bomb-making is rampant. I’d like to know what are they (administration in the state) doing? The position of DGP in WB is an open secret. That’s why I say we have political Police: West Bengal Governor pic.twitter.com/c1sbRys8FR

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2021

Dhankhar has been time and again raising questions over the political violence in the state. He has repeatedly appealed to voters of the state to vote ‘wisely.’

“It is a great opportunity for image makeover because so far the elections in the state have been marred with rampant violence. It is the right time to engage in best practices so that every voter can freely use their franchise in a peaceful atmosphere.” Dhankhar said.

He also emphasised that no one living in the state will be called an outsider. “My heart pains that a child of ‘Maa Bharati’ is called an outsider just because he does not belong to the state. No one living in the state can be an outsider,” the Governor was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.