Security tightened ahead of Netaji Jayanti, Republic Day

The city police took several measures to tighten up the security here to avoid any untoward incident during Netaji Jayanti and Republic Day.

Sources said the Centre has alerted some of the states apprehending terror attacks. Based on the alerts, the city police have taken necessary precautions and plans have been chalked out to ensure safety of people.  

According to a senior police officer of the city police, additional policemen will be deployed at important installations where hundreds of people are expected to gather on these two days. There will be policemen in plainclothes at important places including Metro stations, Victoria Memorial Hall, Alipore Zoological Garden, Railway stations, shopping malls and markets. 

There will be police pickets at different points of the city where the policemen will check vehicles if they find anything suspicious. 

Police pickets will also be posted at all the entry and exit points of the city. 

“Always steps were taken to increase vigil at the entry and exit points of the city like Howrah Bridge and Vidyasagar Setu. This time more policemen will be posted at the points through which outsiders may enter the city from North and South 24-Parganas,” a police officer said. 

The vehicles which will leave the city through these points will also be checked.

 “The decision to check the vehicles, those leaving the city, has been taken as a person may get caught if he tried to flee after committing a crime in the city,” the officer said. 

More policemen will be deployed to patrol all across the city at night. 

Directions have been given to officers-in-charge of all the police stations in the city to supervise the patrolling in their respective areas. 

The officers, who will be patrolling, have been asked to contact the control room at the city police’s headquarter immediately if they find anything suspicious. 

The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) of the city police has also been asked to conduct frisking operations on Red Road the venue of the Republic Day Parade. 

The frisking operation by the BDS and Dog Squad will also be carried out at other important places in the city. 

The police will also be using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to keep a vigil on the venue of the Republic Day Parade. 

There will also be restrictions in the traffic movement on Red Road since January 25 and both the north and south bound vehicles will be diverted through the other adjacent roads. 

The state police too have increased their vigil at all important installations situated in the districts where hundreds of people gather on any occasion.