Banerjee also linked the issue to the ongoing political dispute over the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and allegations of ‘vote chori‘.
TMC MLA and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh demanded an urgent Assembly session to discuss the law-and-order situation. He also sought statements from the chief minister and the governor. Ghosh alleged that the figures reflected “police raj, goonda raj, threat and politics of fear”, questioning how women could feel safe with 2,454 rape cases recorded in less than five months.
The BJP has yet to issue a detailed public response to the specific figures in the latest RTI disclosure. Its state president Samik Bhattacharya has, however, repeatedly adopted a tough public stance on crime since the party came to power.
In July, following the Baruipur rape-and-murder case, Bhattacharya said, “Those who have committed rape or murder will not be spared. They will be dug out from their graves. Criminals should either be behind the bars or should die.” He also reiterated the BJP’s election slogan ‘bhoy out, bharsa in’ — fear out, trust in.
In September, Bhattacharya told BJP workers that the party had “zero tolerance” towards violence and extortion. He said the BJP had received a “massive mandate” and had a responsibility to maintain a peaceful environment conducive to investment.
