At times police excesses necessary to keep mafias, anti-social elements under control: Bengal minister
Kolkata, Aug 23 (IANS) West Bengal Panchayat Affairs and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh on Sunday said that at times police excesses are necessary to keep mafias and diehard anti-social elements in society under control.
“Many people are saying that the police in the new regime in West Bengal are overreacting. Let the police overreact. It is always better than allowing mafias and diehard anti-social elements to overreact. If the police overreact, society will remain peaceful. At times, police excesses are necessary to keep the mafias and diehard anti-social elements in society under control,” said Ghosh while speaking to the media persons at the inauguration of a BJP party office in his Assembly constituency of Kharagpur (Sadar) in West Midnapore district.
Ghosh, known for making straightforward and sometimes controversial statements, launched a scathing attack on the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress regime in the state for allegedly nurturing the mafia and antisocial elements by keeping the police forces inactive.
“Earlier, the police used to run the mafia kingdom in collaboration with gangsters and mafia leaders. Now, this will not happen. If necessary, there will be encounters. The new state government will not tolerate the police personnel becoming party cadres,” said Ghosh.
On this issue, he also reminded the encounter killing of Prvas Mondal, one of the accused persons behind the rape and murder of a minor girl at Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district earlier.
“No mafia or goons will be able to operate freely. If they resort to anti-social activities, they will be shot and not provided with rice and lentils. We will do whatever is necessary to keep them under control. If necessary, there will be encounters as happened in the case of Baruipur. The police will pull the triggers if necessary. The harassment of common people will not be tolerated at any cost,” added Ghosh.
–IANS
src/dpb
