After the sensational Baruipur rape-murder case sent ripples across West Bengal, the district police have begun the process of identifying land for a new police outpost at Surjapur in the state’s South 24-Parganas district.
The move is aimed at strengthening policing and improving access to law enforcement in the area.
Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had said that his government has decided to establish a police outpost at Surjapur in response to the demands of the survivor’s family. Adhikari even instructed the Baruipur district police administration to pursue the matter hurriedly. He had also expressed hope that the outpost would be inaugurated during his next visit to Baruipur.
Police sources said officials have already initiated discussions with a landowner whose property is located close to the survivor’s residence. The proposed site is near the Surjapur ghat, where the outpost is expected to come up if the land is finalised.
On Thursday, senior police officers visited the survivor’s family to enquire about their condition and assured them of all possible assistance.
A day earlier, the Superintendent of Police, Baruipur Police District, had also reviewed the proposal with local police officers as part of the administrative process for setting up the new facility.
The Baruipur police station currently covers 19 gram panchayats and one municipality, making it one of the largest police station areas in the district. Residents have long argued that the existing police station is located too far from several villages, including Belegachi, Hardah, Brindakhali, Champahati, Begampur, Ramnagar I, Ramnagar II and Nabagram.
Local people have also suggested that creating a separate police station by bifurcating the existing Baruipur police station would provide even better policing in the region.
Although a temporary police camp functions at Surjapur, it is primarily deployed for maintaining law and order during specific situations. Residents currently have to travel nearly 10 km to Baruipur police station to lodge written complaints or complete other legal formalities.
Once operational, the new outpost is expected to allow residents to register complaints locally and facilitate preliminary investigation-related work without requiring them to visit the main police station.
Police sources said the proposed outpost would have a larger deployment of officers and personnel than the existing camp, enabling more effective patrolling, quicker emergency response and improved crime prevention.
Residents have also urged the administration to install adequate street lighting on the Surjapur bridge, which connects the area with Joynagar.
Although the bridge was reopened after renovation about a year ago and carries hundreds of vehicles every day, the absence of proper lighting continues to raise safety concerns, particularly after dark.