Bid to spread fake narratives about West Bengal, start riots: CM Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA/MALDA: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday lashed out at attempts to spread misinformation and false narratives about Bengal, alleging that "outsiders" were instigating riots in the state, pitting one neighbour against the other.


Speaking at an administrative meeting in Malda, she directed DGP Manoj Malaviya to regularly meet his counterparts in Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha to facilitate inter-state information exchange and plug intelligence gaps.


"The moment something happens in Bengal, there is fake news all over," the CM said. "There is a Supreme Court ruling empowering police to lodge FIRs against hate speech. District magistrates should take note of it and the cyber crime department should be more alert," she added, asking the cops to register suo motu FIRs against anyone making hate speech.


Banerjee alleged that around "20-25 people from Delhi" had recently held a meeting in Bengal to instigate communal clashes in North Dinajpur and Malda.


"Incidents at Kaliaganj and Gajol have been the result of violence instigated by outsiders. They are instigating clashes among all communities, not just Hindus and Muslims. They are instigating Rajbanshis against Bengalis, Kurmis against Adivasis and Matuas against another community. They are even paying some Muslim youths to initiate communal violence and then flee," Banerjee said, adding, "These things have come to our notice. No community wants communal clashes. It is sought only by some unscrupulous political leaders and some TV channels."


The chief minister said cops should be more proactive in handling law and order situations. Gone were the days when the police could reach a place "four hours later," she said. "Now you should take action immediately after an incident. There is no waiting period." Reminding officers about what had happened in Kaliaganj since the April 21 death of a teenaged girl, Banerjee questioned the delay in letting people know about the findings of the postmortem. "Had the postmortem report been published at once, there would have been no scope of a media trial or misinformation," she said. "Law and order situations have to be handled strongly. Some officers in charge are becoming too lethargic these days. At Kaliaganj, why was a constable first sent to the spot? Why didn't the IC (inspector-in-charge) not go himself? Why were the constables sitting there for two hours? When they saw the body, they should have carried it with respect. Why wasn't there a body bag or at least white clothes? We need to remember that when a person dies, we need to be more respectful towards them."


Asking cops to be more resilient, Banerjee questioned how anyone could have the audacity to beat up uniformed police officers and ransack the office of the DM. "Beating or humiliating the uniform is an unpardonable offence," she said.


Raising questions about the role of BSF, the CM said she had information that the village "was controlled by the BSF". "Who had fired bullets? I have heard BSF controls the village. Is that a fact? I have heard BSF is torturing people by entering regions within 50kms of the border. I am asking because an inquiry has to be done." Banerjee questioned North Dinajpur DM Arvind Kumar Mina about this. When he responded that the village lay very close to the border, she got infuriated and shot back: "It means I have information that you don't have. I am not asking you to shoot people. But you have the power of law (on your side). Handle the situation with a firm hand," she said.


Banerjee also directed Mina and the SPs of Malda, Murshidabad and North Dinajpur to be more proactive against fake news. "While a cellphone opens up a world of opportunity, it is the same cellphone that can spread a fake video. I have also been into opposition politics for several years but I have never thought about doing such things. So I feel sad today and condemn those who try to ignite a fire just for the sake of political benefit. Hence, I ask you to keep your eyes and ears open and be in touch with youths from clubs in villages who can pass on information to you. Form a Whatsapp group with the clubs and the same can be done with mosques, temples and gurdwaras," she said at the end of the almost two-hour-long meeting.