Police on alert as VHP plans 2,000 Janmashtami processions

KOLKATA: Bengal police will be working in tandem with CID and other police commissionerates, including Kolkata Police, to “maintain peace” during the Janmashtami celebrations on September 2. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has called for around 2,000 rallies to celebrate the day across the state. Already, several districts are on alert following clashes over formation of panchayat boards.
Nabanna has sent out necessary instructions to the cops in the districts, including the DIGs and SPs. Senior police officers have been asked to make sure that there is no untoward incident on Janmashtami.

As the first step, the various cells of the specialized units from the CID and Kolkata Police special branch have been asked to develop better co-ordination among themselves.

Each police station might be asked to draw up rally routes in advance and senior cops have also been asked to be present during the entire duration of the rally. Monitoring of social media to stop spreading of rumours and fake news have also been put on priority list. Kolkata Police is also on alert and likely to hold a meeting with the OCs after August 28.

The police have identified sensitive pockets ahead of Janmashtami, based on intelligence reports and briefed the district administration. Additional forces will be deployed in areas where the festival is celebrated on a large scale and in regions that have witnessed violence in the recent past.

“We are working in collaboration with all stakeholders. Any rally, which may violate the basic tenets of peace and harmony will not be allowed. We have identified sensitive pockets and will conduct meetings with locals, political representatives and other influential personalities from these areas to avoid any trouble,”a top source said.

Police, however, said they were worried over “shows of strength” despite the security arrangements.

“Most incidents of violence take place when Ram Navami processions pass through sensitive areas or when organizers suddenly abandoned the proposed route and take detours. If the spirit of festival remains, half of our job will be done,” said a senior cop.