Bengal: Government directed police to adequately cover every religious procession on Monday

Senior Home Department officials said the Bengal government has directed all district police chiefs to ensure that every religious procession on Monday is adequately “covered” by security personnel. In a recent message to all district police chiefs, the Home Department directed that at places where giant screens will be installed – for live telecast of the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya – there should be adequate police presence and special Must be monitored. Areas with mixed population. Sources said superintendents of police have been asked to assess intelligence feedback about certain meetings and rallies under their respective jurisdictions and ensure that even the smallest incident is immediately addressed by the local police. A senior Home Department official said, “There should be adequate police presence in the programs related to distribution of bhog at the end of the puja and rituals on this occasion so that even the slightest emotion is not flared up.” “Sub-divisional police officers will maintain constant touch with the police stations under their jurisdiction and make necessary arrangements for police deployment.” The BJP decided to install LED screens in several parts of the state to live telecast the inauguration of Ram Temple by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Initial mapping of problematic and sensitive areas in each district has been completed…deployment will begin from Monday morning,” said a senior officer in-charge of the zone. Superintendents of Police of all the districts have been asked to remain alert in the background of the violence that took place on the occasion of Ram Navami procession in Howrah and Hooghly last year and the violence that took place in Basirhat of North 24-Parganas a few years ago. The officer said, “Cleverness is the word. Since a situation cannot be predicted, senior police officers have been asked to use their skills and experience to deal with a situation that may flare up.” Several superintendents of police said that in case of violence, emphasis is being laid on the use of batons and tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. But to avoid that, the focus will be on intensive patrolling. Avijit Banerjee, superintendent of police of Purulia district in south Bengal, said, “Separate teams of motorcycle mobiles and RT mobile vans will make their rounds in sub-divisions and blocks. “Even senior officers will be on their mobile rounds throughout the day.” A week ago, Ganga was enraged after the alleged attack on three sadhus who were going to Sagar. Superintendents of Police were also asked to ensure that the timing and route of rallies for inter-religious harmony, one of which will be led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata, do not clash with other processions. “No procession should be allowed to proceed without adequate police coverage,” the home department official said.