Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday expressed her concern over the increasing trend of contract killing and directed police to arrest those hiring the murderers first to trace the source of money being allegedly used in such crimes.

Speaking at a public meeting in Joynagar, South 24-Parganas, where prominent Trinamul Congress leader Saifuddin Laskar, 43, had been murdered in November last year by suspected hired killers, the chief minister told the police to take action to stop the trend.

“We cannot allow this to continue,” she told the police.

Referring to Laskar’s murder, the chief minister drew the attention of senior police officers by saying: “A person was killed here (Joynagar) a few days ago by engaging contract killers… I would tell the police administration to first take action against those who hired such contract killers.”

“These people never help any person by giving money, but they hire criminals from various places for as much as Rs 15 lakh.... We cannot allow this to continue,” Mamata added.

She directed the police to find out the source of the money which the hirers pay contract killers. “Where from do they get so much money?… trace out the source,” she directed the police.

Several political leaders, including those belonging to Trinamul, were recently murdered allegedly by hired killers across the state. Police sources said the trend of contract killing of political activists had begun with the murder of BJP leader Manish Shukla on the night of October 5, 2020. Criminals from Bihar armed with assault rifles had killed Shukla.

A major stretch of South 24-Parganas district, including Joynagar and Canning, witnessed many such murders. Most of these killings occurred apparently because of internal feuds in the ruling party of Bengal.

Trinamul leader Laskar was shot dead early in the morning of November 13 last year by suspected contract killers. Police sources said the Trinamul factional fight was to blame for the murder.

Sources said during an informal meeting on Tuesday, Mamata asked senior police officers to take stern action to curb the trend. Mamata told the police to act against criminals so that they didn’t threaten law and order.