KOLKATA:Close on the heels of intelligence reports suggesting that more Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh terrorists may sneak into the state and the Maoists likely to regroup in the Western parts of the state, the West Bengal government has decided to buy 10 bullet-proof vehicles for the VVIPs.
A Home Department official on Saturday said, “The existing cars have become worn out and most of them need repairs. Also, they are Ambassador cars and the manufacturer - Hindustan Motors - has closed down. This creates problem. The Mahindra Group has come out with a new model and we have asked them to provide us with 10 bullet-proof vehicles, in the first phase.”
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee never uses the bullet-proof car allotted to her. She mostly travels in a smaller vehicle though a bullet-proof car is part of her convoy. Twice in the past, Mamata had given into the pressure by the Intelligence wing and travelled in bullet-proof vehicles when she undertook visits to the Maoist-affected Jangalmahal.
The official said that the amount of money needed to repair the vehicles at present would almost add up the amount needed to buy new cars.
“Each new vehicle will cost around Rs 50 lakh and money will be provided from the Central funds for “police modernisation,” he added.