CM Mamata: Intel failure of police led to Hills crisis

Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said it was an intelligence failure on the part of the police that they failed to predict that the situation in Darjeeling would snowball into the present broil.

“A plan was hatched to attack the Cabinet ministers that had gone to attend the Cabinet meeting in the Hills. They unleashed violence and bursted shells for two hours at a stretch. How could they do it? It was an intelligence failure and we took action,” Ms Banerjee said at a felicitation ceremony of Bengal and Kolkata police officials at Alipore.

Ms Banerjee removed SP Darjeeling Amit Javalgi and posted Akhliesh Chaturvedi in his place.

ICs of Kalimpong and Kurseong police stations were also transferred. She repeated that she would not take a soft stand against the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and would restore peace in the Hills by tackling GJM violence.

“They do not want the welfare of the Hills, a conspiracy is going on there. I will not let the common people there to be in any sort of trouble. Law will take its own course. The violent movement by a section of goondas (hooligans ) will be tackled strongly,” Ms Banerjee said.

She added, “Politics cannot be done with guns and bombs. Politics is not for serving your own petty interest by depriving others. Do not listen to hooligans and the conspirators and save the Hills.” CPI(M) leader Mohammad Salim urged the government to call an all-party meeting for restoring peace in the Hills.