Cover Story: Tackling Terror: Mamata Promises Cooperation

The security personnel of New Delhi had an idea that West Bengal had been sitting on the ‘powder cage of explosive’ which they thought was the natural conclusion after getting information regarding preparation for terrorist attack on not only Kolkata, but other important targets. Now, after visiting different terror-affected areas of West Bengal, they are in a mood to accept the perception of few political ‘pundits’ that “this bordering state is sitting on a live volcano”.

The network of terrorist organisations spread throughout the length and breadth of the state, having arms & IED (Improvised Explosive Device) producing factories almost in every district have inflicted a shocking blow to even Mamata Banerjee, the belligerent chief minister of the state who, in the name of secularism, promoted the “vote bank” politics at the cost of national security. Already it has been known through investigation by central agencies that nearly a thousand “khariji Madarsa’s”, including few other Madarsas have been engaged in the production of arms and explosives.

So when Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser and other officers visited “NABANNA” (newly built secretariat of the state) they found Mamata act opposite to the image of being a ‘defensive’ person. Her meek and docile appearance before the central officers was simply surprising, but definitely successful in averting the charges of “Politicisation”. Mamata had earlier questioned the decision to hand over the Burdwan blast probe to National Investigation Agency, broaching the “federalism” logic.

Special Secretary (Internal Security) Prakash Mishra told reporters after the meeting with the chief minister was over, “We are going back with the assurance that the centre and the state would be jointly fighting against terror…The case, we hope, would be taken to its logical conclusion”.

In this connection let me quote a paragraph from The Telegraph: “Modiji is very clear that BJP or NDA ministers or their official representatives visiting Bengal will not say anything that would amount to straight politicisation….”

During the meeting, Ajit Doval told Mamata that until now at least 150 youths from Bengal had been trained by the (JMB), which is luring youths to set up arms factories and produce explosives meant to be used in the neighbouring country. The JMB module has been active in Bengal since 2010. Doval is learnt to have told the chief minister.

During the talk Mamata agreed with the intelligence report that at least 180 Bangladeshi terrorists are at large in West Bengal and are active in organising terrorist attack on the Hasina government in Bangladesh. This would have a serious impact on our bilateral relationship with Bangladesh, she said.

Rajnath Singh, central Home Minister, issued a statement to demolish those Madarsas who are running arms factories. The central team told DGP of West Bengal G.M.P.Reddy that the state had shared with Delhi “little or no” intelligence “of use” over the past few years, while the centre has been keeping the state posted on all key findings.

–Asim Kumar Mitra