Security intensified in Bengal for Independence Day

Kolkata, Aug 14 (UNI) Security has been beefed up and vigil mounted against terrorist activities all over West Bengal following a high alert sounded by the state government on the eve of Independence Day.

'' An alert has been sounded throughout the state for security cover. We are keeping special watch on the India-Bangladesh border areas and the areas where Maoists are active,'' Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia told reporters today.

Mr Kanojia said security had been strengthened for protection of vital installations, including airports, railway stations, important bridges and power stations.

Long distance trains, inter-state bus depots, shopping malls and other crowded public places had also been put under scanner to pre-empt any act of terrorism or espionage.

Police also intensified the routine scrutiny of credential of boarders in different hotels, Mr Kanojia said.

With deployment of additional forces, vigil had been stepped up against transborder infiltration in North 24 Parganas, Nadia, Malda, Murshidabad and South Dinajpur districts, bordering Bangladesh, while checking was on in the inter-state border posts.

In recent times, several members of different underground fundamentalist groups, having base in Bangladesh, were arrested.

A red alert had been sounded in the Maoist dominated districts of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura to strengthen security.

Purulia district Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Prasad said alert was issued apprehending Maoist attacks in some pockets of Purulia bordering Jharkhand..

Police patrolling was increased in nine checkposts of Purulia bordering Jharkhand, including Jaipur, Jhalda and Bandwan areas.

Keeping in mind several other underground militant groups, security forces had been put on special preparedness also in Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts, respectively bordering Bhutan and Nedpal.

Official sources said police and para-military forces were conducting cordon operations in every district of North Bengal.

''Security arrangements have been beefed up in every part of North Bengal. However, we are keeping extra vigil in the areas bordering Bangladesh and Nepal. So far, we do not have any threat perception but we cannot take any risk,'' North Bengal Inspector General of Police(IGP) RJS Nalwa told UNI.

The IGP said the state intelligence department's canine squad and bomb squad had also been alerted.

UNI