Civil defence steps in West Bengal soon
By A Staff Reporter, Civil defence measures, including precautions against air raid, will be introducted in West Bengal shorty. These have become necessary following the increasing belligerency of Pakistani troops near West Bengal’s border with East Bengal. A Central Government official will arrive within a day or two in Calcutta for detailed discussions with local officials.
Stating this in Calcutta on Tuesday, a State Government spokesman said that already 25 people had been killed in unprovoked Pakistani shellings in different border areas. In the present situation, civil defence measures had becomes overdue. The spokesman said that all organisation would be ‘activated’.
Earlier in the day, the Governor. Mr. A. L. Dias, held talks with the Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary, and the Centre’s Additional Secretary for Home affairs, for nearly 90 minutes at Writers’ Buildings. A Government spokesman said the meeting, besides examining the present law and order situation and the evacuee problem, also discussed the threat from Pakistan. He said that the Government could not underestimate the theart. If necessary, additional forces would have to be brought in. Already requests had been sent to the Centre urging the posting of special police personnel in West Bengal to deal with the possibility of sabotage.
The meeting also discussed other steps for the maintenance of internal security, which might become necessary in times of emergency. The price situation was one of the points discussed.
Regarding official steps about the State Government employees who have submitted applications regarding the cease-work and the bandh, the spokesman said that these would be scrutinised.
The Chief Secretary met the Consul-General for Denmark during the day and told him of the needs of the evacuees. Supply of some blood-plasma was promised by the Consul-General, he told newsmen.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 20.10.1971