West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday, 27 August announced a sweeping package of reforms to reorganise and strengthen the state police force, speaking at a function held at Lalbazar, the headquarters of the Kolkata Police. The measures span fleet expansion, welfare benefits, a new civil defence brigade, and a zero-tolerance anti-corruption drive.

Key Announcements

Adhikari, who also holds the portfolio of Police Minister, said that four '112' emergency response vehicles will be assigned to each police station, with a total of 552 vehicles to be formally inaugurated at Brigade Parade Grounds on Mahalaya (10 October). He added that one vehicle per station will be delivered before Durga Puja as an immediate measure. The fleet expansion has been backed by a ₹100 crore allocation in this year's state budget.

A new 'Life Saver' award will be instituted to recognise police officers who risk their lives in the line of duty. All police stations will be modernised, women's help desks upgraded, and surveillance capacity in the cyber department expanded.

New Civil Defence Brigade 'Arjun'

Addressing the surge in cybercrime — where, according to Adhikari, many victims have lost their entire savings — the Chief Minister announced the formation of a 200-personnel civil defence brigade named 'Arjun', which will include firefighters. The brigade is expected to be operational before Durga Puja.

Welfare Measures for Police Personnel

Lower-level police personnel will receive a welfare package in October coinciding with Durga Puja: ration worth ₹2,000, advance salary disbursement, and a 20% Dearness Allowance. Adhikari framed these as recognition of the force's ground-level contribution.

Cyclone Amphan Cited as Cautionary Lesson

Adhikari invoked the state's response to Cyclone Amphan as a benchmark for what must not be repeated. He said the previous government's handling was so inadequate that Odisha Police had to deploy a Disaster Management Group of 300 personnel to clear fallen trees — a task that took 12 hours — while local authorities reportedly struggled for three days. He said the Bengal Police workforce will be expanded to prevent such failures.

Zero Tolerance on Corruption and Anti-State Activities

The Chief Minister reiterated a 'zero tolerance' policy against anti-state activities and violence against women, directing police to act proactively without waiting for orders from above. He also issued a sharp warning on corruption: 'This culture of extortion needs to stop,' he said, citing incidents of constables being arrested for accepting bribes as unacceptable. Adhikari stressed that such conduct undermines public trust in the force.

With Durga Puja serving as the operational deadline for multiple announcements, the coming weeks will test whether the state's implementation machinery can match the scale of commitments made at Lalbazar.