KolkataFollowing the orders of the Calcutta High Court in this regard, the West Bengal government on Thursday deployed paramilitary forces in the police commissionerates of Hooghly, Barrackpore and Kolkata for the peaceful conduct of Hanuman Jayanti celebrations. “Adequate strength of state police forces will be deployed in sensitive areas in the state and also in places where violence took place recently. In addition, we have decided to deploy three companies of paramilitary forces in Kolkata, Hooghly and Barrackpore commissionerates,” he said. Has decided.” ,” a state government official was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Hooghly, a part of which recently witnessed violence during the Ram Navami festival, and Barrackpore are industrial areas of the state. After the high-level meeting held on Wednesday, it was also decided in the meeting that the list of volunteers participating in the processions on Hanuman Jayanti festival will have to be submitted to the local police station.
“An identity card will be given to everyone by the police. Without this card no one will be allowed to join the procession,” he said. The administration will not allow more than 100 people to participate in any procession on Thursday.
“We have taken all kinds of precautionary measures and will not let anything go wrong on Thursday,” the official said. The decision was taken in a meeting held virtually by Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi with senior police officers of the state. We want no repetition of incidents of vandalism or clashes during Ram Navami processions.”
Calcutta High Court asks West Bengal government to requisition central forces
The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to requisition central forces to assist the state police in maintaining peace during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations. The order comes in the wake of several incidents of communal violence in Bengal’s Howrah and Hooghly districts on the occasion of Ram Navami on March 30-April 1.
The HC said the police would have the discretion to restrict the route of any procession in view of “unpleasant” incidents taking place on Hanuman Jayanti. The court said that additional CCTV cameras will have to be installed and vantage points through which the procession will pass are videographed, reports PTI.
CM Mamta appeals for peace on Hanuman Jayanti
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has claimed that violence is planned again in the state during Hanuman Jayanti on Thursday and urged everyone to maintain peace. Banerjee told reporters on Wednesday, “Tomorrow is Hanuman Jayanti.
The TMC supremo alleges that the BJP is behind the recent incidents of clashes in Howrah and Hooghly districts during Ram Navami celebrations.
Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry also said on Wednesday that central forces have been deployed in West Bengal to assist the state police in maintaining law and order during Hanuman Jayanti. The festival of Hanuman Jayanti will be celebrated across the country on 6th April.