Security beefed for Durga Puja festival in West Bengal

Kolkata/Siliguri, Oct.13 (ANI): Security has tightened on three different fronts in Kolkata for the Durga Puja festival.

"Our overall scheme for Puja (Durga Puja festival) policing is broadly the same for all the five districts. That is to say, traffic management, crowd management and thirdly, all possible precautions against any act of terror," said Sanjay Mukherjee, Inspector General, South Bengal.

"We are well prepared on all the three fronts, but you will appreciate that the priority given to each of the three heads varies from district to district," he added.

Mukherjee also stated that they are well equipped against any militant attack.

"Regarding preventive security we are very well equipped. Most or all of the major 'pandals' will have anti-sabotage checks. We have our teams ready and regarding counter-terrorism, that is to say hitting back if there is any attack, there, too, we are well prepared," said Mukherjee.

"All our districts have automatic weapons and all our districts have specially trained policemen who are physical fit and trained in arms and far better than the average constable," he added.

Organizers of the local Puja 'pandals' are doing their best to create more elaborate and novel arrangements for the festivities.

"Once there is competition in the market, that is why we have gone with this theme concept. If we make 'pandals' with just cloth, people do not get attracted. People want 'pandals' with themes. This is the demand of the public, so that's why we have to do this. This has become totally commercial," said Souvik Paul, a member of a puja committee in Siliguri. By Ajitha Menon/ Tarak Sarkar (ANI)