State prepares for trouble-free immersion

Kolkata: The state government is prepared with all sorts of arrangements to ensure trouble-free immersion.

This comes at the time following the Calcutta High Court's order allowing immersion of Durga idols on all days from Dashami on September 30, including Muharram, the day after.

A high-level meeting will be held at the state Secretariat (Nabanna) on Friday in this connection. The meeting would be headed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Chief Secretary Malay De, Director General of Police (DGP) Surajit Kar Purakayastha, Commissioner of Kolkata Police Rajeev Kumar, Commissioners of other police commissionerates and Superintendents of Police (SPs) will be present at the meeting.

According to the top brass of the state administration, all sorts of arrangements are in place to ensure that the entire Durga Puja and immersion process take place calmly, maintaining the state's tradition of peace and harmony.

On Thursday, there was a high-level meeting at Nabanna in which the Chief Secretary, DGP and Commissioner of Kolkata Police were present. The meeting was held soon after the court order.

It is learnt that there were certain discussions to make a detailed planning to ensure that no one in the state comes across any problem. According to certain officials, the matter will be discussed with the SPs in Friday's meeting. There is also possibility that the top brass of the state government might ask the SPs regarding the situation in their respective areas at present.

It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had earlier told all ministers and senior officers from districts in the administrative review meeting to be in their respective areas during the Puja so that no one can even attempt to create any disturbance.

The officer further added that there was coordination meeting with Puja organisers and there were elaborate discussions on various aspects as well.

Besides the coordination meeting that was held in the city which was attended by the Chief Minister, similar meetings were held in the districts in which ministers from the respective areas and senior administrative and police officers had discussions with Puja organisers.

Similarly, local police stations too have played a major role in the grassroot level by maintaining a proper coordination with Puja organisers in their respective areas.

The police have already made plans so that no untoward incident takes place during the Puja and at the same time the immersion of Durga idols can also be completed peacefully. Assuring that there will be no trouble during the Puja, the officer said: "All arrangements are in place and there is no question of any untoward incident taking place during the Puja."