The Bengal government on Tuesday divided the existing police administration in Murshidabad into two police districts — Murshidabad and Jangipur — in an apparent bid to ensure proper law and order.

With the division, Murshidabad would get two police superintendents.

The headquarter of Murshidabad police district would be set up in Behrampore and subdivisions like Sadar, Murshidabad, Domkal and Kandi would come under its jurisdiction.

While the Jangipur police district, which would have headquarters in Raghunathganj, would have only Jangipur subdivision under its jurisdiction.

“Murshidabad is a huge district and shares borders with Bangladesh. It is always easier for the administration to establish rule of law in a smaller area. That is why two police districts were set up in the district,” said a senior government official.

Sources said the administration had been considering a proposal to divide Murshidabad into two police districts for the past few months but the process was expedited in the past few days since violent protests over amended citizenship Act had rocked the district.

“It was realised that the district police could not react to the violent protests on time. Two police districts would help the administration keep a tab on law and order in a more efficient way,” said another official.