Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday passed an unequivocal message to the administration of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts to take stern steps against land mafia.

During a virtual meeting from Nabanna with officials of districts, Mamata also underscored that her government would not sit silent if any attempt was made to fan tension in the hills, a region that witnessed a violent movement five years ago over statehood.

“The land mafia in and around Siliguri has become so aggressive that they have made a bridge over a river so that they can sell land located on both banks of the river. We have dismantled it. Police will have to act immediately and arrest all those involved in such illegal work, irrespective of political affiliation of such persons,” she said.

She was referring to a case where it was found that an iron bridge has been built over Sahu river on the southeast end of Siliguri under Jalpaiguri district.

Mamata also referred to the illegal extraction of minor minerals (sand, stones and pebbles) from the riverbeds of Darjeeling district.

“You have to stop it with an iron hand. No white stone, that has less durability, should be allowed extraction from riverbeds by people who do not have licence. These stones are used to build roads which soon get damaged and the state exchequer has to bear extra cost to repair such roads. Also, encroachment of river banks has to be stopped,” the chief minister added.

During her virtual meeting with the Darjeeling district administration, Mamata instructed Manoj Malaviya, the director-general of police, to draw a proposal so that two police stations of Siliguri subdivision, Phansidewa and Naxalbari, are included in the Siliguri police commissionerate.

These police stations are under Darjeeling police.

Mamata also asked the administration and police of Darjeeling and Kalimpong to be alert to developments.

“There is peace in the hills but of late we have learnt that there are instigations from certain quarters to foment fresh tension in the hills. Let us make it clear that we will not let Bengal be divided any more to fulfil the political interest of some people. The hills will continue to be a part of Bengal,” said Mamata.

Interacting with the administrative officials of other north Bengal districts, Mamata asked them to be alert on the activities of the Border Security Force (BSF) at the India-Bangladesh border.

She also made it clear that she was in no mood to hold talks with the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO, a banned terror outfit having roots in north Bengal).

“We have given jobs to hundreds of them… now some of them are saying that they want to sit with the chief minister. The SP should be on alert about their activities,” the chief minister said.

Mamata will soon visit north Bengal to attend a mass marriage of tribal youth.

“The BJP conducts such marriages with political intentions funded from outside. We will make arrangements for the marriage of tribal girls in Alipurduar and I will attend it,” she said.