Police on toes for tonight's protest & I-Day celebrations
2
Kolkata: The city police will deploy close to 5,000 officers to secure the area and ensure smooth movement of citizens between Aug 14 and the afternoon of Aug 15, given the host of activities planned during those 36 hours.
This will mean a significant presence of officers, especially at all the "Reclaim The Night" programmes on Aug 14, similar to their presence at the Independence Day celebration events where chief minister
Mamata Banerjee
is scheduled to attend the same evening. About 2,000 of the 5,000 cops will guard the main programme zone and its approaches
The main deployment will be at the Red Road-Kidderpore Road programme on the morning of Aug 15 when the Tricolour will be unfurled by Banerjee.
"With Operation Sindoor held this year, we are not taking any chances with security," said an officer.
Kolkata Police commissioner Manoj Verma, while inspecting Red Road on Wednesday, said: "We are ensuring proper and adequate security."
You Can Also Check:
Kolkata AQI
|
Weather in Kolkata
|
Bank Holidays in Kolkata
|
Public Holidays in Kolkata
|
Gold Rates Today in Kolkata
|
Silver Rates Today in Kolkata
"A large police force will be deployed in the Red Road area from the morning. Several senior officers, including a joint commissioner-rank officer, will be present. Each sector will be overseen by an IPS officer and an inspector-rank officer.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Free P2,000 GCash eGift
UnionBank Credit Card
Apply Now
Undo
Police booths will be set up on Red Road and surrounding areas. From the night of Aug 14, important roads will undergo checkpoint inspections. Additional surveillance will be in place at metro stations as well," Verma added.
With repeated instances of molestation and harassment of protesters, especially at the last two "Reclaim The Night" protests, Lalbazar has issued a list of dos and don'ts for the various citizens' protests lined up on that day.
"Elaborate police arrangements for Thursday and Friday will be made for all planned rallies called by multiple groups, along with the official programmes. We are instructing officers not to indulge in any altercation and to swing into action whenever any complaint from woman protesters reaches them, irrespective of whether it is written.
We will also ask local police to keep vigil on main roads at night to ensure protesters face no harassment," said an officer.
General security has also been beefed up in the city ahead of Independence Day, senior officers said. "Adequate measures have been taken for the Independence Day programme on Red Road on Friday. All entry and exit points of Kolkata have been kept under surveillance. All units have been briefed on the security plan," said an officer.
Vigil has been tightened around Red Road, and traffic will be suspended on the stretch from 10 pm on Friday. "We will have to be on our toes. The stretch has been divided into 20 sectors under the charge of a deputy commissioner-level officer," he added.
About 500 CCTV cameras will keep watch on the 2 km radius of the programme, including Park Street, Esplanade, Outram Road, Kidderpore Road, and some port areas.
Stay updated with the latest local news from your
city
on
Times of India
(TOI). Check upcoming
bank holidays
,
public holidays
, and current
gold rates
and
silver prices
in your area.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
10 minutes ago
- Hans India
CM Hoists National Flag: Haryana to play key role in Viksit Bharat sankalp says Saini
Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini participated in the state-level Independence Day celebrations in Rohtak on Friday, unfurling the tricolour and calling on citizens to turn Atmanirbhar Bharat into a 'Jan Andolan' (people's movement). Extending greetings on the 79th Independence Day, Saini noted that India has risen to become the world's fourth-largest economy and, under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi must now aspire to claim the top position. This goal, he stressed, can be realised only by turning the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision into a nationwide movement. He urged people to adopt the spirit of Vocal for Local and Local for Global, encouraging industrialists, investors, scientists, and technicians to harness their skills in the service of national self-reliance. The Chief Minister inspected the parade, took the salute, and paid homage to martyrs at the Shaheedi Smarak. Families of freedom fighters were also honoured during the ceremony, which drew a large gathering of residents and officers. He shared that the present state government has increased the pension for freedom fighters and their widows to Rs. 40,000 per month, enhanced ex-gratia for war martyrs' families to Rs 1 crore, and provided government jobs to 410 dependents. Breaking colonial shackles The Chief Minister hailed the repeal of three colonial-era criminal laws after 70 years, noting these were designed to punish and control Indians. Outdated provisions have been removed, reflecting a modern legal framework. He cited recent military operations, including Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev, as evidence of India's indigenous technological and military strength, saluting the valour of the armed forces. Viksit Bharat Sankalp Saini said Haryana would play a key role in achieving the Prime Minister's vision of making India a developed nation by 2047. Haryana remains a leader in foodgrain contribution, manufacturing every second car on Indian roads and 52 percent of the country's tractors. Transparency and reform Highlighting his government's tenure, the Chief Minister said Haryana has freed citizens from discriminatory systems, rooted out corruption, and adopted a new e-governance model linking schemes to the Parivar Pehchan Patra. Over 100 government services have been digitised, ensuring transparency. The state is known nationally for merit-based recruitment, online transfers, educated panchayats, and the Antyodaya mission. Farmer welfare at the core The Chief Minister said that all crops are now procured at MSP, with Rs. 1.48 lakh crore transferred directly to 12 lakh farmers. Compensation worth Rs. 15,465 crore has been paid for crop losses in 10.5 years. The British-era abiyaana levy has been abolished, and the Agriculture Land Lease Act introduced to rebuild trust between landlords and tenant farmers. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, nearly Rs. 7,000 crore has been credited directly to farmers' accounts. Social Justice and Welfare The Chief Minister while highlighting the measures taken for social justices and welfare said that bifurcating SC reservation to benefit the most deprived, raising the OBC creamy layer income limit to Rs. 8 lakh, granting OBC-B reservation in panchayats and urban local bodies, allotting land in 1700 villages to the Prajapati community, providing Vivah Shagun of up to Rs. 71,000 under the Mukhyamantri Vivah Shagun Yojana, and constructing houses for the poor under PMAY and the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana are some of the key initiatives taken for social welfare. Besides this, he said that social security pensions have been raised to Rs. 3,000 per month, with benefits extended to 10 new disability categories, he said. Healthcare expansion The Chief Minister said that under the Ayushman Bharat–Chirayu scheme, free treatment has been provided to 22 lakh beneficiaries. Free dialysis is available for kidney patients in all government hospitals and medical colleges. Every district will have a medical college; 15 are functional and 9 are under construction. Women's empowerment The Chief Minister said that initiatives include the Lado Sakhi scheme, training women in drone operations, allotting one-third of ration depots to women, operating Atal Kisan Mazdoor Canteens and Vita outlets through women, and ensuring 50 percent representation in panchayati raj institutions. Thirty of the 80 new colleges opened in the state are for girls, who receive free education up to post-graduation, he said. Haryana redefining prosperity The Chief Minister said the last decade has been marked by inclusive growth, harmony, tolerance, and transformative changes that have made life simpler, safer, and more convenient. He assured that Haryana's future will also stand as an example of development, progress, and prosperity. On this sacred occasion, let us pledge to work tirelessly, guided by our great cultural traditions and high moral values, to build a Developed India and a Developed Haryana, he said. Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi hoisted the National Flag at his official residence in Chandigarh to mark the 79th Independence Day.
Hans India
10 minutes ago
- Hans India
Indians need to make sacrifices to keep independence alive
New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Noting that Indians should not be complacent about independence, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said they need to work hard and make sacrifices to keep it 'alive' and also contribute to the world's prosperity and peace. Bhagwat made the statement while addressing a gathering at the RSS office in Bhubaneswar on the occasion of Independence Day. He said an Independent India too has its duty towards the entire world, which is facing innumerable problems and is unable to overcome them since 2,000 years. 'Our ancestors ensured India's Independence by making supreme sacrifices. We too need to be as hardworking as they and need to make similar sacrifices to keep it alive and to make the country self-confident and emerge as 'Vishwa Guru' (global leader) to guide the world engaged in quarrel,' he said. Indians must work hard as their ancestors did for three generations to get Independence, Bhagwat said, adding: 'This should be done on the basis of India's religion and intellect.' Indians also need to guide the world, said the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He said India strives to bring peace and happiness to the world and to share its 'dharma' with others. 'We got Independence to ensure that everyone in our country could attain happiness, courage, security, peace and respect. However, the world is faltering. It is our duty to provide the world with a solution and create a new world filled with happiness and peace based on our vision, rooted in religious principles,' Bhagwat said. He said there are environmental issues and quarrels across the world. Under such a situation, it is India's duty to guide others, resolve issues and make the world peaceful and prosperous as a Vishwa Guru,' he said. Noting that 'Swatantra' (independence) is a combination of two words - 'Swa' (self) and 'Tantra' (governance), Bhagwat said the country has become independent and people are now running the government.
New Indian Express
10 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
India yet to fulfil freedom fighters' dream, says CM Pinarayi Vijayan
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The country is yet to achieve the dreams of the freedom fighters, who envisioned an India free from caste discrimination, communalism, poverty and child labour, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in his Independence Day message. 'While we are proud of the achievements that the country has made in various fields, we must never forget India's social reality,' the chief minister said at the flag-hoisting ceremony held at the Central Stadium here on Friday. Stressing the need to uphold the constitutional values of democracy, secularism and socialism, Pinarayi stated that India's biggest achievement in the last decades is how the country has adhered to democracy throughout the years. He also highlighted how Kerala should contribute towards the development of the country in the coming years. 'Efforts are on to eradicate extreme poverty in the state. We are on a mission to build a new Kerala,' he added. After hoisting the national flag, the chief minister received the guard of honour from the armed forces during the parade led by Nedumangad sub-division assistant superintendent and parade commander Achyuth Ashok, and second-in-command Kerala Armed Police assistant commandant Sumesh A S. The parade featured officers from the Thiruvananthapuram City police, Tamil Nadu police, Kerala Fire and Rescue Services, Motor Vehicle Department, NCC, Scouts, Aswarooda Sena, among others. Pinarayi also presented the President's Medals for Distinguished Service to officers from the Police, Fire, and Correctional departments. The ceremony was also attended by Civil Supplies Minister G R Anil, legislators Kadakampally Surendran, Antony Raju and V K Prasanth, and District Collector Anu Kumari, among others.
