Shillong, April 6: After the violent confrontations during Ram Navami processions in West Bengal, the Calcutta High Court ordered the deployment of three companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in the state to prevent any untoward incidents on Hanuman Jayanti on Thursday.
Three paramilitary force companies were stationed in Kolkata, Barrackpore, and Hooghly on Thursday.
According the reports, one company of central forces in Kolkata has been split up into numerous sections that have been stationed in places like Charu Market, Hastings, Garden Reach, Ekbalpore, Girish Park, Kidderpore, Entally, and Jorabagan, among others.
During Ram Navami celebrations, violent communal clashes broke out in the districts of Howrah, Hooghly, and Uttar Dinajpur last week and again this week.
The West Bengal administration was instructed by the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday to request paramilitary support from the Center during the Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in order to maintain peace.
According to a spokeswoman for the union home ministry, “Central Armed Police Forces deployed in West Bengal to assist state police in maintaining law and order during observance of Hanuman Jayanti”.
Kolkata Police has already issued a warning to individuals who see permits for Hanuman Jayanti gatherings.
On the prohibited list are things like motorbike rallies, fireworks displays, DJs and carrying weapons like lathes.
Police have set up barricades in Howrah, where confrontations erupted last week, and are employing drones to monitor the rallies.
Rapid Action Force (RAF) and police forces have been deployed in large numbers.
In the districts of Hooghly and Uttar Dinajpur, security was also increased.
