Mamata holds high level meeting on security for Durga Puja,Muharram
TNN Bureau. Updated: 9/22/2017 4:44:42 PM
Politics
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today held a meeting with top civil and police officials regarding maintenance of law and order during the festivals, including immersion of Durga idols, with a note that every community puja committee should seek the local police station's permission about timing and routes of immersion. Calcutta High Court in an order on Thursday directed the DGP, police commissioners and all police stations to specify separate routes for immersion of Durga idols and taking out Taziyas and ensure they do not overlap.
The court directive followed an earlier state government order restricting immersion on September 30 till 6 pm and a complete ban on October 1 on account of Muharram. The high court ordered that immersion be allowed till 12 midnight on all days beginning September 30, that is Dashami. The high level meeting presided over by Ms Banerjee at Nabanna today reviewed all aspects of the law and order and directed top police officials to ensure that the puja committee in each area seek prior permission from the local police station about immersion and the routes to be taken.
The government also sought the assistance of the local representatives to cooperate with the administration and the police to maintain peace and harmony among the different faiths and communities. The meeting was attended among others by the state home secretary, the DGP, police commissioners of different districts and many people's representatives. Meanwhile, TMC MP and lawyer Kalyan Banerjee today said the HC verdict was in favour of the state government. He said the court specifically said the local police authorities are competent to decide if any immersion arrangement was permissible or not.