The Siliguri Metropolitan Police has developed a comprehensive plan to ensure that thousands of people hopping the pandals during Durga Puja can celebrate the festival without inconvenience.
Police commissioner C. Sudhakar on Wednesday said that they would deploy 2,000 police personnel of different ranks in and around Siliguri, the jurisdiction of the police commissionerate, during the puja.
“There will be an anti-sabotage wing that will use all necessary modern technology for close surveillance of the city to prevent criminal activities. Added to the usual deployment of police personnel, two pink patrol vans and two platoons of the winners’ team (both all-woman squads) will be deployed in the commissionerate area to ensure the safety of women pandal hoppers,” said Sudhakar.
He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event organised by the police to launch the Durga Puja guide map of 2024.
A total of 19 police assistance booths would be opened in different locations of the city, especially in areas where popular pujas are being organised.
Police sources said that the anti-sabotage wing would be deployed to keep vigil in crowded areas. They would visit different spots and conduct surprise checks.
“Police personnel in plainclothes would also be deployed for foot patrolling. Surveillance would be conducted through drones,” said a source.
Around 600 Durga Pujas are being organised in the Siliguri Police Commissionerate. On Wednesday, Sudhakar, along with other senior officers, visited some of the prominent pujas to check the arrangements.
During their visit, police officers checked whether proper arrangements have been made to handle the crowd and whether the electrical work was being carried out appropriately.
“The preventive drive to arrest criminals is in progress. In the past two months, around 5,000 people have been arrested for their involvement in different cases,” said the commissioner.
From October 8 to October 14, the police will restrict traffic movement in certain routes of the city.
“Depending on the assemblage of people, the movement of vehicles, including two-wheelers,would be regulated in the locations concerned for a better crowd-management,” said an officer.