Considering the “evolving situation” in the western borders post airstrikes on terror camps in Pakistan the Bengal Government has placed its administration in a state of high alert cancelling all the leaves of senior officials till the ranks of Indian Administrative Services and West Bengal Civil Services.
Informing that the state’s disaster management departments had been put on maximum alert Banerjee said, Bengal was committed to fighting against terror and would fight shoulder to shoulder with the powers that be against all acts of terrorism.
“There should not be differences among us on this issue. The police have been put on alert. District magistrates have been alerted. All leaves have been cancelled,” the Chief Minister said. Earlier she held a high level meeting in that respect with the top Government officials.
Though the Chief Minister would not name any country — particularly Bangladesh which had recently been displaying a ‘Pakwords’ tilt post change in Government there — she said her Government had to be on alert considering the fact that it shared borders with other countries.
Bengal shares a border of 2,217 kilometres with Bangladesh, which is a significant portion of the total
4,096-kilometre border between the two countries. Banerjee said, “We love our country.
“It is well known fact how Bengal has always made maximum sacrifices for the nation. We will have to be vigilant round the clock since we share border with other countries.”
The Chief Minister had on Wednesday reacted with a brief “Jai Hind” and “Jai India” after India launched an air strike on Pakistan’s terror hubs in the previous night.
Incidentally Bengal shares borders directly with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan and Doklam region bordering China is barely 50 kms from the North Bengal city.
The Chief Minister also requested the private schools to announce their respective summer vacations.
“The government schools are closed because of summer vacation. I request private schools to do that also.
“This is not a guideline… only a request,” she said informing the state’s disaster management units too had been put on a state of high alert.
“The disaster management department is on alert particularly the units in North Bengal,” Banerjee said adding the units in the northern part of the State would work 24x7.
“This apparently against the backdrop of Siliguri corridor being one of the most sensitive areas in terms of national security.
State Chief Secretary Manoj Pant had been appointed the nodal officer for interact acting with central agencies, Banerjee said.
Different parts of Bengal was presently witnessing mock drill sessions that started on Wednesday and was likely to continue for a week.
The Chief Minister’s directive to put the state on high alert came in consequence of her high level meeting with Union Minister Amit Shah and Chief Ministers of some other States.
The Chief Minister sent out a strong message to the media, particularly a section of the digital media asking them to furnish responsible stories and not fake ones.
Asking that the mainstream media, and social or digital media should act responsibly and avoid from spreading disinformation or fake news — particularly in consideration of the central guidelines she said, “those who spread wrong information through social media, digital media or other form should be cautious,” as the central guidelines “prescribes action against anyone spreading misinformation.
The media has great responsibility at this hour.
“There should not be any news that provokes people and triggers unrest,” reminding this was not the hour to increase TRPs or Television rating points.