The two associations of West Bengal Civil Service Officers are divided on the issue of providing personal security officers for Block Development Officers (BDOs) in Naxal-affected areas of Purulia, West Midnapore and Bankura in the state.

The state government had yesterday announced it would provide security to BDOs in view of the recent abduction of Sankaril officer in-charge and subsequent intelligence inputs that more such abductions could be carried out by the Maoists in remote tribal belts as a bargaining tool. 

While one association says they want more officers to be covered by the state security, the other association says the present arrangement is enough and that no security is enough if Maoists target someone in the remote pockets of the state.

In West Bengal there are 342 BDOs, all WBCS officers and of them 70 are posted in the three Naxal-hit districts. Yesterday, Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen had said 10 BDOs in that area would be provided with armed escorts.

“It was a welcome measure taken by the state government. But there are 70 blocks in that area and providing security to 10 officers only seems to be inadequate to us. We will take up the issue with the government,” said Sutanu Prasad Kar, an office-bearer of West Bengal State Civil Service Association (WBSCSA).

However, the other association says the measure is adequate at the moment. “We are sure the government will provide security for more officers if needed,” Pradip Jana, president of West Bengal Civil Service (Executive) Officers Association, said.

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