Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had to face an embarrassing situation in the Assembly when his own party MLA asked him if he was satisfied with the role of the police. Mr Bhattacharjee who is also the state home minister was giving a statement on the violence in the state during the Question Hour in the House. He told the
House that 2,284 murders were committed between January 1, 2009 and February 15, 2010 out of which 26 were of a political nature.
Two weeks ago also, Mr Bhattacharjee was left red-faced when RSP legislator Tapan Hore had virtually heckled him over the inaction of police in the murder of former CPI(M) MLA Ananda Das in Nanoor.
Virtually playing the role of the Opposition, senior CPI(M) MLA Rabin Mondal who is also acting chief government whip in absence of Syed Mohammed Masih, said: “Had the police performed its duties, many incidents of murders could have been averted. Are you satisfied with the role of the police?”
Immediately, Forward Bloc MLA Dipak Sarkar also asked about the police action after the murders of leaders like Falguni Mukherjee, Madan Tamang and Ananda Das. A visually embarrassed chief minister replied, “The police is trying to arrest the accused persons. But some of the accused has fled to other states and even to other countries.”
Mr Bhattacharjee also acknowledged the fact that criminal activities were increasing in the state. He informed that Maoists were reportedly roaming in some districts in North Bengal and also in Nadia, Murshidabad and Birbhum.
Mr Bhattacharjee further added that there should be an all party meeting on these issues. Leader of Opposition Partha Chatterjee said that since the Left Front would not be in the power after the next Assembly polls, Mr Bhattacharjee has no right to call such a meeting.