A general alert has been sounded in West Bengal for Independence Day on Sunday and the state government is putting in place a strict security
bandobast on the occasion.
"There is a general alert in the state although there is no input of any specific threat. Security is
enhanced for Independence Day. It has been enhanced this year too," state Chief Secretary Ardhendu Sen told reporters.
BSF has been asked to increase vigil along the borders and surveillance also increased in the Maoist-hit areas, he said.
IGP (Law and Order) Surajit Kar Purakayastha said security has been increased in NSC Bose Airport, Kolkata and Haldia ports, railway stations, shopping malls, vital installations and places of worships.
Along with uniformed police personnel, those in plain clothes are also being deployed in these areas, he said.
Control rooms have been opened in the districts to enable the public to report unidentified or suspicious objects.
City police commissioner Goutam Mohan Chakraborty, who visited the state secretariat to check security arrangements, said police have been carrying out security drills in the city for the past few days.