Security in temples and other important places beefed up

Kolkata, Mar 8: Security in and around the famous Kali Temples in Kalighat and Dakshineswar in the city, besides all other important government installations throughout West Bengal, have been put on maximum alert in the wake of yesterday's dual bomb blasts in the temple town of Varanasi.

Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanoria said all the district Superintendents of police had been instructed to maintain strict vigil and ensure full protection to all major temples and other religious places in their respective districts following yesterday's suspected terrorist attacks in Varanasi.

All the 48 police stations in and around the city had also been alerted and extra police forces deployed in all sentive areas to maintain a round the clock vigil.

The overall law and order situation in the state was also reviewed at a high level meeting here last night following the Varanasi blasts.

State Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb presided over the meeting which had also decided to maintain an extra vigil in and around sensitive areas and on some vital installations by the security forces.

Meanwhile, State Director General of Police Subhas Chandra Awasthi on his return from the Maoist affected South Midnapore district yesterday, met Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee at his Writers Buildings chamber here today and submitted a detailed report about the Maoist activities and the state administration's plan to effectively deal with the situation.

The DG also called on state Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Roy and discussed security steps to control the Maoist and other subversive activities in all the three extremist dominated districts of South Bengal in the wake of the coming state assembly polls from next month.

UNI