The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the West Bengal government to make a request for deployment of paramilitary forces ahead of Hanuman Jayanti celebrations on Thursday.
“As we have directed the State to make a request for deployment of paramilitary forces, the concerned authority of the Central government shall take expeditious steps in deploying such force since the festival is to be celebrated tomorrow,” an order by Acting Chief T. S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya said.
Considering the sensitivity of the problem, the Court also directed that “no person either a political personality or a leader or a common man shall make any statement in public or to the media concerning the festival to be celebrated tomorrow”.
Observing that “prevention is better than cure” the Division Bench also added that the State police are required to take all steps with the assistance of the paramilitary force or any other Central force to prevent any untoward incident so that the public are not put to jeopardy.
The Court observed, that State’s Advocate-General S. N. Mookherjee has submitted that more than 160 applications have been received as of now for conduct of the procession during Hanuman Jayanthi.
“We are informed that a large number of police force has been deployed in those vantage areas to maintain law and order situation. Therefore, considering the largeness of the issue and in order to avoid any breach of peace, we are of the definite view that the State government should requisition the assistance of paramilitary force from the Central government,” the order by the High Court said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had also expressed apprehension about communal flare up during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations welcomed the High Court order. The Chief Minister urged people to celebrate the Hanuman Jayanti festival peacefully. “Tomorrow is Hanuman Jayanti. I will urge everybody to celebrate it peacefully. There will be no problem if peace is observed. West Bengal is the land of peace,” Ms. Banerjee told presspersons in Purba Medinipur district.
Referring to the High Court order, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said in a tweet, “ This is your marksheet @HomeBengal & @MamataOfficial ; and you score an “F” ( fail) in Law & Order”.
Communal violence had erupted during Ram Navami processions at the Shibpur police station in Howrah on March 30 and Rishra in Hooghly district on April 4. While no lives were lost in the incident prohibitory orders were imposed in both the places. State Governor C.V. Ananda Bose had on Tuesday visited Rishra and appealed for peace.
Following the direction of the Calcutta High Court, the West Bengal government decided to deploy paramilitary forces in three districts of Hooghly, Barrackpore and Kolkata during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations, a senior official said.
The decision was taken at a meeting held virtually by Chief Secretary H.K. Dwivedi with senior police officers of the State.
"There will be an ample number of State police forces deployed at sensitive areas in the State and also at those places where violence was witnessed recently, Apart from that, we have decided to deploy three companies of paramilitary forces in Kolkata, Hooghly and Barrackpore," the official told PTI.
(With inputs from PTI)
