Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Apr 5: In light of intelligence inputs indicating possible unrest during Ram Navami celebrations, the West Bengal and Kolkata Police have rolled out heightened security measures, placing all processions across the state under extensive camera surveillance on Sunday.
To ensure real-time monitoring, additional CCTV cameras have been installed along key routes where Ram Navami processions are expected to take place. Security personnel deployed for the occasion will also be equipped with body cameras for transparent and accountable policing.
“In the event of any disturbance, identifying the instigators and perpetrators is our top priority,” said a senior police official. “With enhanced video coverage this time, it will be significantly easier to pinpoint those responsible for inciting or engaging in violence.”
In Kolkata, drone surveillance will add an aerial layer to ground monitoring, while all officers posted on duty have been instructed to wear full protective gear.
The state police have marked ten areas as highly sensitive and directed district superintendents and commissioners to implement heightened security measures in these zones. As part of this intensified security setup, 29 senior IPS officers have been deployed across vulnerable locations.
Apart from the visible police presence, a large number of plainclothes officers will also be stationed along procession routes. All adjacent lanes and bylanes are being thoroughly sanitized ahead of the celebrations.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, West Bengal BJP president and union minister of State Dr Sukanta Majumdar appealed to the state administration to maintain peace during the festivities.
“Crores of Hindus will be celebrating Ram Navami on Sunday. The festival has been observed in Bengal for thousands of years, just as it is across the country. Any attempt to disrupt these celebrations must be thwarted at all costs,” he said.
The comprehensive security arrangements come amid growing political and communal sensitivities around the festival, with authorities keen to ensure that celebrations remain peaceful and incident-free.