The Bengal government has made tight security arrangements in view of the ‘Nabanna Abhiyan’. The Nabanna Abhiyan has been called on August 27 by an organisation called Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj, which claims to be apolitical, to protest the rape-murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The BJP has supported the protest. The Nabanna Bhawan in Howrah is the state secretariat. Meanwhile, the Left parties have distanced themselves from the protest march and called it a ploy of the BJP-RSS to misdirect the ‘people’s movement’ over the rape and murder of a junior doctor.
More than 6000 policemen deployed in Kolkata-Howrah
Kolkata Police said that more than 6000 policemen will be deployed in the city in view of ‘Nabanna Abhiyan’. Barricades have been installed at a total of 19 points. 5 aluminum barricades have been made at different important places. There will be a 3-layer security cordon of Kolkata Police and Howrah City Police outside the Nabanna building. An ACP rank officer of Kolkata Police will be in charge of the entire law and order. ACP and DCP rank officers will be in charge of important places like Howrah Bridge, Hastings and Hooghly Bridge. Joint Commissioner (Headquarters) of Kolkata Police Miraj Khalid will monitor the CCTV footage from the police control room throughout the day.
Also read: ‘Nabanna campaign illegal, no permission taken for rally…’, Kolkata Police claims violent conspiracy
Focus will be on Hasting, Howrah Maidan and Shibpur Road
Additional forces from various districts have already been brought to Kolkata. The main focus of the police will be on 1) Hasting, 2) Howrah Maidan, 3) Shibpur Road, Howrah Bridge. Combat Force, RAF, QRT, HRFS, Water Cannon will be deployed to control any chaos. Kolkata Police has sent an email to the organizers of Nabanna Abhiyaan seeking information about the leaders who will lead the rallies. Police has sought information from the organizers about how many people will gather, from where and how many rallies will be started, what will be the route etc. However, the police has not yet received any response from the organizer.
Special arrangements will be made for those taking the UGC-NET exam
Special arrangements will be made at Kolkata’s College Square. The police have intelligence reports of a large number of people gathering there. According to the intel report, the two biggest rallies will be held at Kolkata’s College Square and Kolkata’s Santragachhi. The UGC-NET exam is also scheduled to be held on August 27. The exam is to be held in two shifts from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and then from 3 pm to 6 pm. Kolkata Police has said that adequate arrangements have been made to ensure that no UGC-NET candidate faces difficulty in reaching their exam centers.
Also read: UGC NET 2024: ‘Nabanna Abhiyan’ in West Bengal increases the concern of UGC NET candidates, police gave this advice
TMC accuses opposition of instigating unrest
In case of any emergency, candidates have been asked to contact the nearest police station. The ruling TMC has hit back at the opposition, accusing it of inciting unrest. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “Will CPM, DYF, SFI, Congress march towards Nabanna under the leadership of BJP, RSS? In whose generation did Cooch Behar, Bantala, Dhantala, Unnao, Hathras, Nirbhaya happen? They are trying to bring political instability. They are also talking about bullets. People want justice for the victim, not corrupt politics on this issue.”