kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata | June 22: Strengthening law and order in the state and preventing attacks on police personnel, government officials and public servants, the new BJP government in West Bengal is set to introduce two significant bills in the Legislative Assembly. According to sources at Nabanna, the state Home Department may place the draft of both bills before the Cabinet meeting on Monday for approval. A senior government official confirmed that the proposed legislations are likely to be tabled during the ongoing budget session of the Assembly.

The decision comes in the wake of repeated incidents of attacks on police personnel, administrative officers and central security forces while they were performing their duties in different parts of the state. The government believes stricter legal provisions are necessary to curb such incidents and maintain public order.

One of the proposed bills seeks to amend the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act, 1972. Through this amendment, the government plans to expand the scope of the existing law to deal more effectively with offences such as riots, arson, looting and the use of explosives. The proposed changes are expected to grant additional powers to the police and administration to tackle situations involving serious disturbances to public peace.

The second proposal is an entirely new legislation titled the Public Safety Control and Anti-Social Activity Bill. The objective of this proposed law is not only to maintain conventional law and order but also to eliminate anti-social activities at their roots and further strengthen public safety across the state.

The move gained momentum following the recent incident in Falta, where supporters demanding the release of arrested Trinamool Congress leader Jahangir Khan, allegedly led by his wife, attempted to surround a police station and engage in vandalism. Following the incident, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had indicated that his government would bring in tougher legal measures. He stated that the old law had remained inactive for years and that the Home Department would introduce a stronger law during the current budget session, which would make people think multiple times before taking the law into their own hands.

Nabanna said that while preparing the draft of the new legislation, the government studied stringent laws implemented in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. However, the proposed law for West Bengal is expected to have its own distinct features according to the state's requirements.

One of the most significant provisions under consideration is the introduction of strict punishment and financial liability for those found guilty of damaging public or private property, similar to the model followed in Uttar Pradesh. The bill may include provisions allowing authorities to recover the cost of damages by selling the properties of individuals convicted of involvement in violence or vandalism. The Home Department is currently engaged in finalising the draft before it is placed for approval and legislative consideration.