Amid a busy schedule of meetings at the PWD tent in Esplanade on Wednesday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari made an unexpected visit to two police stations in his Bhabanipur constituency, conducting surprise inspections at Watgunge and Iqbalpur police stations.

The unannounced visits, which took place on Wednesday afternoon, surprised police personnel as the stations had received no prior information about the Chief Minister’s arrival.

At around 1:15 pm, Adhikari reached Watgunge police station and immediately went to the Women’s Assistance Desk, where he interacted with the woman police officer on duty.

He enquired about the process of recording complaints and asked whether any grievances had been registered at the desk. He also interacted with other police personnel, listened to their concerns and discussed the challenges they face while carrying out their duties.

The Chief Minister later inspected the infrastructure of the police station, including fire safety arrangements. He checked the condition and expiry dates of fire extinguishers installed on the premises and also visited the lock-up area.
During his brief visit, Adhikari reviewed the overall functioning of the police station and held discussions with officers before leaving for the next stop.
From Watgunge, Adhikari’s convoy moved to Iqbalpur police station, where he conducted a similar inspection.

He first visited the women’s help desk and spoke with the officer posted there. He then reviewed other sections of the police station, including the lock-up area, and sought details about complaints registered during the previous 24 hours.
The Chief Minister also asked officers about the action taken on those complaints and reviewed the station’s overall functioning.

Focus on police infrastructure and women’s safety

Since taking charge of the Home portfolio, Adhikari has repeatedly stressed the need to strengthen police infrastructure and improve facilities for personnel. He has also emphasised a strict approach towards crimes against women, assuring that his government would follow a zero-tolerance policy on women’s safety.

The Chief Minister has previously visited police establishments, including Bhabani Bhaban and the Police Training School in Barrackpore, and has spoken about boosting police morale and providing necessary support for modernisation.

Political significance of the inspection

Political observers have described the surprise police station visits as a significant move. They have drawn comparisons with former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s practice of making unannounced visits to hospitals and police stations to assess ground-level conditions.

Sources said the choice of Watgunge and Iqbalpur police stations was significant as both are located in minority-dominated areas and have witnessed law-and-order challenges, including incidents of vandalism, in the past.
The inspections are being seen as a message on strengthening police preparedness and ensuring effective maintenance of law and order.

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