Left Front criticises West Bengal police; says firm actions required

The Left Front today criticised the role of the West Bengal police administration, a portfolio held by chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, saying that it should act more firmly.

"The police administration should act more firmly to ensure law and order in the state," Left Front chairman Biman Bose told newspersons here after a meeting of the Front.

Referring to the killing of a college student in Howrah last week, he said that there was very little police presence despite a tense situation prevailing there over college union elections.

"Why only four policemen were there at the college on the last day of filing nominations?" Bose questioned.

Bose, who is also the CPI(M) state secretary, also referred to the killing of seven Forward Bloc workers by Maoists at Purulia last week saying that better police presence and mobilisation was necessary.

Steps should be taken to ensure faster mobilisation of forces to avert recurrence of such incidents.