West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday said the state government was working in close coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) to prevent cross-border infiltration, cattle smuggling, narcotics trafficking and circulation of counterfeit currency along the India-Bangladesh border.
Inaugurating a Durga Puja pandal in the Lalbagh area of Murshidabad district, Adhikari said the state police were extending logistical support to the BSF for fencing the international boundary and strengthening security arrangements in border areas.
Calling for a "narcotics-free West Bengal", the Chief Minister said the administration was determined to eliminate smuggling networks operating along the international border.
He said 5,000 bottles of cough syrup had recently been destroyed near the India-Bangladesh border in Jalangi as part of efforts to curb the illegal movement of narcotic substances.
"Cough syrup bottles, fake notes, heroin, opium and cattle used to be smuggled to Bangladesh... We are committed to totally eliminate smuggling... We have also stopped cross-border infiltration and trafficking of girls," Adhikari said.
The Chief Minister maintained that cooperation between the state administration and central border forces was essential to tackling organised smuggling and human trafficking.
๐๐ ๐ณ๐น๐ฎ๐ด๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฑ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ, ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐ป๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐
Expressing concern over child marriage and teenage pregnancies, Adhikari appealed to residents to help the government prevent the marriage of underage girls.
He said 60,000 minors had undergone institutional deliveries across West Bengal between January and June this year, including 9,700 in Murshidabad district alone.
"I appeal to everyone to help us save the girls," he said.
The Chief Minister alleged that child marriages had been widespread under the previous administration, with girls between 12 and 15 years of age being married off and subsequently becoming pregnant.
"Under the previous regime, girls as young as 12 to 15 years were married off and they became pregnant. This is illegal... Our government wants to reform the society and not remain confined only to administrative work," he said.
Adhikari emphasised that the government's responsibility extended beyond routine administration to addressing social practices that endangered the health, safety and future of young girls.
๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ป ๐ข๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ณ
Turning to development issues, the Chief Minister said a meeting would be held in Delhi on October 27 to discuss riverbank erosion, a persistent problem affecting several areas of Murshidabad.
Erosion caused by the Ganga has remained a major concern for communities living along the river, with agricultural land and settlements facing recurring threats.
Adhikari said the issue would be taken up at the forthcoming meeting.
He also directed the district administration to develop "model villages" equipped with essential amenities, stressing the need to improve infrastructure and public services in rural areas.
๐ฃ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฝ๐๐ท๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐น๐
Referring to Durga Puja celebrations, Adhikari said two pandals in Murshidabad district had witnessed untoward incidents and that police investigations were underway to identify those responsible.
He alleged that the incidents were attempts to disrupt the festive atmosphere and spoil public celebrations.
The Chief Minister said the number of Durga Pujas organised across West Bengal had increased from 45,000 last year to 58,000 this year.
"We have waived electricity charges for the pujas and allocated Rs 1 lakh each to the 58,000 pujas of the state," he said.
Adhikari said the measures were intended to support organisers and facilitate celebrations across the state.
๐๐ฑ๐ต๐ถ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ท๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
The Chief Minister also thanked voters in the Rejinagar Assembly constituency for electing BJP candidate Shankharavh Sarkar in the October 6 bypoll.
He said he would visit the constituency and fulfil his election campaign promise of constructing a bridge in the area.
"I have promised to visit the area and fulfil the campaign promise of building a bridge there," Adhikari said.
He reiterated that the government would work towards improving infrastructure and ensuring that rural communities had access to essential facilities.
๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ'๐ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ต๐ถ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐
Speaking separately on the sidelines of a Durga Puja inauguration in Panskura in Purba Medinipur district, Adhikari criticised the Cockroach Janta Party's ongoing movement in Delhi.
Asked about the demonstrations, he alleged that certain forces were attempting to weaken the country and obstruct its progress.
The Chief Minister asserted that people would resist attempts to create instability and called for stronger government action against those he described as anti-national elements.
He also alleged that individuals who had previously terrorised residents of Panskura were now in hiding.
Adhikari maintained that people in Purba Medinipur would not allow such elements to resume their activities or disturb public peace.
His remarks came amid continuing political demonstrations in Delhi over electoral-roll revisions and alleged irregularities, with the CJP planning another gathering in Connaught Place on Friday.