Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government has claimed the Border Security Force is training a “people’s militia” whose aim is to break away from Bengal.
The charge arises out of a probe report submitted by the DIG, Jalpaiguri Range, to the ADG (Law and Order) at the state secretariat saying BSF officials in the Mathabhanga area of Cooch Behar in North Bengal imparted training to volunteers of the Narayani Sena.
Narayani Sena, an arm of the Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association or GCPA, has been known to demand a separate state of Greater Cooch Behar on ethnic grounds for Rajvanshi tribe.
The training, according to the report, happened a day after August 15 without the state administration knowing. The TMC said this was an attempt by the BJP-led Centre to spread unrest in the region for political gains.
The Sena is said to be raising militants by picking volunteers in large numbers. Narayani Sena leader Ananta Ray said BSF was only responding to their request to teach them to give a guard-of-honour to BJP MP and junior Union minister S.S. Ahluwalia when he visits the area.
