Don't hide crime data like previous regime: West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari told police

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. File | Photo credit: PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who launched several police modernization initiatives on Thursday (July 2, 2026), urged them not to hide any crime data and submit factual records to the Home Ministry.

“Do not withhold any crime data and if there is any complaint, register an FIR and take necessary action. Whatever details the Home Ministry demands regarding crime against women and children in terms of data, do not reduce it even by a single figure,” the chief minister said at a press conference at the State Secretariat.

The chief minister’s remarks assume significance as there were allegations of providing false crime-related data to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) during the Trinamool Congress regime. Kolkata has been recorded as the safest city according to NCRB data for the past few years, during which incidents of violence against women have continued to be reported in the city and the rest of the state.

“Unless we know what’s bothering us, we can’t do any treatment. If we try to suppress the disease, one day it will emerge as something big and we won’t be able to deal with it,” Mr Adhikari said.

During the day, the Chief Minister inaugurated a dedicated helpline for women at all police stations in the state. These help desks will be functioning round the clock at police stations where trained women police personnel will be deployed where women can air their grievances.

Mr. Adhikari also opened a cyber crime help desk at every police station to deal with cyber fraud cases. The chief minister said that while the safety and protection of women remains a priority of his government, cases of cyber fraud are spreading like a pandemic.

“One of the primary objectives of our government is to ensure the safety of women. In view of the bitter experience of the Nirbhaya case and the Abhaya (rape at RG Kar Hospital) incident in Kolkata, we have adopted a policy of zero tolerance against crime against women,” he said.

Mr. Adhikari expressed hope that senior civil servants at the level of Director General of Police (DGP) and Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) would train the Cyber Help Desk staff as it is a very complex subject that requires training and cannot be tackled with general knowledge.

He added that the Cyber Crime Police Department will be headed by an Inspector General level officer who will oversee the cyber crime help desk and assured that the state government will provide infrastructure, communication facilities and manpower in this regard.

The Chief Minister also lauded the passing of the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026 and said it would provide a conducive atmosphere for police work.

Mr. Adhikari pointed out that his government will appoint 20,000 policemen to be recruited into the state police force by September this year, including 4,000 in the Kolkata police force. The Chief Minister also added that he will introduce a police helpline -112 in the Durga Puja state in October.

Published – July 3, 2026 11:25 AM IST