West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Wednesday she may stay back in north Bengal for another day as political violence and unrest continue in neighboring Nepal.

At a Press conference at Uttarkanya, the state government’s north Bengal headquarters, Banerjee said she would not return to Kolkata until the situation across the border stabilizes.

“If the situation does not calm down, I will remain here,” she said. “I feel a sense of duty. I have always wanted to stand by people in times of crisis — be it a rail accident or floods in Malda. I try to be by their side.”

Banerjee said she had already held meetings with district magistrates from eight districts and would decide on her return only after reviewing the situation. Taking a swipe at her opponents, she cautioned people to remain vigilant against those who “try to fish in troubled waters” for political gain. “Standing by people and exploiting a crisis are not the same,” she said.

Expressing anguish over the violence in Nepal, Banerjee said she had penned a poem the previous night. “It felt terrible,” she said. “A man was set on fire alive, and people celebrated in different ways. What kind of civilization is this? Differences of opinion can exist, but burning people alive and inflicting atrocities cannot be accepted. There is no trace of humanity in this.”

Reiterating her stance as an administrator, she added: “For me, people come first, before party or politics. Even if someone from my own party is at fault, I don’t spare them.”

Earlier in Jalpaiguri, Banerjee announced that the state government would arrange to bring back residents of Bengal stranded in Nepal within a couple of days. She urged them not to panic. “Do not rush. Don’t invite danger upon yourselves. We are monitoring the situation closely,” she said.

The chief minister spent Tuesday night at Uttarkanya, overseeing developments. “You can sleep peacefully. We are here to take care of things,” she told reporters, recalling how she had guarded the state without taking leave even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On her arrival in north Bengal, Banerjee held meetings with senior police officers. Following her instructions, surveillance along the Indo-Nepal border has been intensified. State police officials held a high-level meeting with the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which guards the frontier.
SSB’s 41st Battalion Commandant Yogesh Kumar Singh met with North Bengal Inspector General Rajesh Kumar Yadav and Darjeeling Superintendent of Police Praveen Prakash to discuss border security. Police stations in the border belt have since been put on alert, with naka checks underway at Panitanki and other points.
Darjeeling’s police superintendent said regular communication is being maintained with Nepal Police. A district police helpline has been activated for Indians in distress.