Republic Day: Security tightened in West BengalÂ
Kolkata/UNI: West Bengal has been brought under tight security on the eve of the 70th Republic Day with the authorities leaving nothing to chance.
Foolproof security has been put in place on Red Road where the R-Day parade will be held. Multiple teams will patrol the Hooghly river to keep a watch on the banks. Security is also being beefed up at the city's underground Metro rail and places of tourist interest as authorities expect a crowd surgeon the holiday.
'Red Road will be out of bounds for traffic from 10 pm tonight. It has been divided into 20 sectors with a deputy commissioner level officer in charge in charge of each. Nearly four thousand policemen will be deployed across Kolkata and about 2000 of them will be on duty around Red Road alone.
The area will also have ten sand bunkers, 10 watchtowers and six protective cabins, along with a dozen help desks.
There will be 23 Radio Flying Squads and 11 Heavy Radio Flying Squads across the city,' a senior Kolkata Police official was quoted as saying by a local daily.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to reach Red Road at 0952 hours tomorrow. Governor Jagdeep Dhankar will arrive three minutes later. The national flag will be hoisted at 0959 hours. Soon after the parade will begin.
Kolkata Police is yet to disclose the parking arrangements around Red Road.
'There will be special attention on places like the Alipore Zoo, Victoria Memorial Hall, shopping malls and places of worship where large congregations are expected. Local police stations have been asked to collect information on special events and rallies being organised in neighbourhoods and make arrangements to prevent any untoward incident,' the officer was quoted as saying.
This year the parade commander will be Brigadier VM Chandran, deputy GOC, Bengal Sub-Area of the Army.
The Army contingent will comprise armoured personnel carriers and howitzers. Contingents from the Indian Air Force, Navy, Kolkata Police, West Bengal Police and the NCC will also take part.
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