Deployment of 13,000 Police Personnel at Bengal's Gangasagar Mela Due to Terrorism Concerns
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Kolkata, Dec 30 (NationPress) A total of 13,000 police officers will be assigned to the Sagar Islands in the coastal district of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, in anticipation of the upcoming annual Gangasagar Mela scheduled for next month, officials announced on Monday.
This information was disclosed during a press briefing by district administration and police officials, including Sumit Gupta, the District Magistrate of South 24 Parganas, and Koteshwar Rao, Superintendent of Police for the Sundarban Police District.
The Gangasagar Mela is set to commence on January 8 and will conclude on January 17. The auspicious time for the holy dip associated with Makar Sankranti is designated from 6:58 a.m. on January 14 to the same time on January 15.
"A total of 13,000 police officers will be stationed at Sagar Islands during the Gangasagar Mela. We will implement both land and coastal surveillance measures. In addition to uniformed officers, plainclothes personnel will also be present. Aerial monitoring will be conducted through drones, and the Indian Coast Guard alongside the National Disaster Response Force will be on-site to ensure safety," stated Rao.
Gupta noted that additional lighting will be set up on the jetties and towers along the rivers, aimed at assisting pilgrims who might encounter challenges during the frequent fog typical of this season. "Currently, 1,150 CCTV cameras have already been installed at Sagar Island in preparation for the event," he added.
A senior state police official mentioned that security protocols are usually intensified during the Gangasagar Mela each year. "However, this year, we are taking extra precautions due to warnings that illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators might attempt to cause disturbances during the festivities amid the ongoing political crisis in the neighboring nation," he remarked.
