West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday made an explosive allegation against her own administration. She said that traffic police personnel were extorting money from the poor in the name of traffic violation fines. On the dais were state home secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay and state director general of police, Virendra. Banerjee is herself in charge of the state home department which controls the state police force.
The police’s “Safe Drive Save Life” project is close to her heart and it has made huge impact all over the state in raising awareness on traffic rules, reducing accidents and violations. However, Banerjee today said that police were extorting money while implementing this project. And they were doing this not just in the districts, but even in Kolkata, the CM warned officers today. She was speaking at the administrative meeting in East Midnapore.
She was even specific about the allegations: money was being extorted through civic volunteers. She said cases were being slapped on the poor unjustifiably. From Kolaghat to Digha, the civic volunteers were raising money through extortion, she said. “If anyone does something wrong, take action. Why is money being taken from them?” she asked. “People are suffering because they have to pay from the meagre sum that they carry,” the CM said. She asked the officers to install CCTV in the mentioned zone and to have firm surveillance regarding the allegations.
The chief minister asked the police force to be human in their actions. She told them that the action of the police – who represent the government – goes on to bring a bad name to politicians.
