Raigan, Oct. 23 -- In a bid to strengthen law and order and ensure quicker police response, the Raiganj Police District authorities in North Dinajpur have proposed setting up four new police stations in their jurisdiction. The proposal has reportedly been sent to the state government for approval.
The proposed police stations are Rosakhowa in Karandighi, Maharaja in Raiganj, Radhikapur in Kaliyaganj and Durgapur in Itahar. The move is aimed at reducing the workload of existing police stations and improving policing in areas spread over vast geographical stretches.
According to sources, the five existing police stations-Raiganj, Kaliyaganj, Hemtabad, Karandighi and Itahar-are facing difficulties in maintaining effective law and order because of their extensive jurisdictions. In cases of major crimes and other emergencies, police personnel sometimes struggle to reach incident sites promptly because of the long distances involved.
Raiganj Police Station covers an area of more than 400 square kilometre, while Karandighi Police Station has jurisdiction over more than 388 square km. Kaliyaganj and Itahar police stations cover areas of over 300 and 350 square km, respectively.
The strategic location of the district also adds to the policing challenges. The India-Bangladesh international border touches Radhikapur in Kaliyaganj and adjoining areas, while the jurisdictions of Raiganj and Karandighi stations extend to the Bengal-Bihar border.
Atanubandhu Lahiri, secretary of the Raiganj Merchants Association, welcomed the proposal and said: " We have heard that the Raiganj Police District authorities have proposed four new police stations to the state government. It is a welcome move. Sometimes, police personnel take time to reach crime spots because of the long distances. The new police stations would ensure easier access and help control law and order more effectively."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.