KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee expressed serious concern here on Thursday against the growing incidence of crime against women.

The State Government was taking all steps to combat the problem but the police alone could not prevent such occurrences. What was needed was greater social awareness among the people against harassment of women.

Early marriage and dowry demands were social evils which needed to be countered, Mr. Bhattacharjee told the Assembly. The State's Social Welfare Department, various non-government organisations and the State's Women Commission would together conduct a workshop to raise awareness on such issues.

The Chief Minister, who was participating in a debate on an adjournment motion moved by the Trinamool Congress on the "deteriorating law and order situation in the State" asked the Opposition members to identify the indices that would determine whether the situation was deteriorating or improving.

"The law and order will not collapse in West Bengal and investments [to the economy] would continue to come and none can stop it," Mr. Bhattacharjee assured the House.

Violence by Maoists

The Chief Minister condemned the attempts to create violence by Maoists whom he described as terrorists in certain parts of the State. Had they not found a safe haven in adjoining Jharkhand they could not have been active in this side of the border.

They were sneaking in from that State, committing violence in West Bengal and fleeing back to their shelters in Jharkhand, Mr. Bhattacharjee pointed out.

The adjournment motion which was also supported by the Congress was later defeated.

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