Govt to provide security to businessmen: Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday issued a slew of directives to ensure security of businessmen and industrialists in the state.
While chairing the 11th Udyami Panchayat (industrialists’ meet) at the CM secretariat here, Nitish said a committee under the chairmanship of IG (security) would assess and take decision on providing security to the industrialists and businessmen facing threat.

The CM also said one battalion each of Bihar Industrial Security Force (BISF) will be set up at Begusarai and Dumraon. “The posts have been sanctioned for the two proposed battalions and details regarding the same will be elaborated in the advertisements for appointments,” the CM said while addressing the representatives of Bihar Industries Association (BIA) and Bihar Chamber of Commerce (BCC) among other trade bodies and senior officials of the department concerned.

The state cabinet had given nod to the constitution of BISF at its meeting on September 6, 2017. Total 2,698 posts have been sanctioned. The BISF would function on the lines of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which provides security to airports and some other major establishments.

The CM made the announcements regarding providing personal security to industrials and BISF deployment while expressing concern over the recent murder of Patna-based businessman Gunjan Khemka at the entrance of his Hajipur factory. Three more businessmen have also been killed at Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Vaishali in the last 10 days.

“The recent killings are shocking. DGP is himself monitoring the Hajipur murder case and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted for conducting a thorough probe into the killing. My office is also taking updates in the case,” the CM told the industrialists.

He said police were taking action and trying to identify the motive behind the businessman’s murder. “The police have information that criminals are using young boys for committing crime and appropriate action is being taken to stop this practice and nab the culprits,” he said.

The CM also emphasized on the need for transparency in land allotment by Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA) as per the norms under the state industrial policy.

The CM told the representatives of trade and industry that big industries are not being set up because “Bihar is a landlocked state where micro industries should be promoted”.

Nitish also expressed concern over people not being able to utilize the benefits of industrial investment policy. “Industrial investment policy was implemented long ago but people are not able to reap its benefits. That is the reason why the expected quantum of investment is not being made in the state,” Nitish said.