Kolkata, April 5
In the wake of intelligence alerts warning of possible tensions during Ram Navami celebrations in parts of West Bengal, the state and Kolkata police have decided to bring every procession under comprehensive camera surveillance on Sunday.
To bolster monitoring, additional CCTV cameras have been installed along key procession routes in the state.
Furthermore, police personnel deployed for security will be equipped with body cameras to ensure transparent documentation of events.
“In the event of any disturbance, identifying the instigators and perpetrators is our top priority,” said a senior state police official.
“With enhanced video coverage this time, it will be significantly easier to pinpoint those responsible for inciting or engaging in violence,” the official said.
In Kolkata, drone surveillance will supplement ground-level monitoring. All officers and personnel deployed along the routes have been advised to wear adequate protective gear.
The state police have identified 10 particularly sensitive areas across Bengal. District police superintendents and commissioners of the respective police Commissionerate have been instructed to implement heightened security arrangements in these areas.
To reinforce security in these high-risk areas, 29 senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers have been deployed. In addition to uniformed forces, a substantial number of plainclothes officers will also be present during the processions.