The situation in certain areas of north Bengal that border Assam continued to remain on the edge on Wednesday with reports of about 2,000 people having entered the State in the last few days to escape the ongoing violence.
“We have information that about 2,000 people have entered areas like Kumargram, Baxirhat and other adjoining areas over the last few days. We have identified about 556 of them and they are being provided necessary relief material at the camps set up by the administration,” Amal Kanti Roy, Sub-Divisional Officer of Alipurduar subdivision in Jalpaiguri district, told The Hindu over telephone.
Anuj Sharma, Inspector General of Police (North Bengal), said additional police personnel were deployed in the areas bordering Assam in Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar districts of the State. Some people who had come from Assam had taken shelter in the houses of locals and the situation was under control.
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Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Surya Kanta Mishra met Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay and urged him to send an all-party delegation to areas in north Bengal bordering Assam.
“The Speaker said he will inform us about his decision after a day,” Dr. Mishra said.
Chairman of the Left Front Committee Biman Bose demanded that police and paramilitary forces be deployed immediately in the areas bordering Assam.
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He urged the people of border areas, including Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar districts, to remain alert and play an effective role in curbing violence.