Nirbhik Bangla Special Report:
To further strengthen the law and order situation in the state and to keep the upcoming festive season completely safe, the deployment of Central Paramilitary Forces has been increased once again in Bengal. Following specific directives from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and a security assessment, 50 new companies of additional central forces have arrived in the state. As a result, a total of 100 companies of central forces are now taking charge of security in West Bengal under the current circumstances.
According to administrative sources, a special team of central forces comprising 6 companies of jawans arrived at the Asansol railway station around 8 PM last Sunday. Although quite some time has passed since the conclusion of the Lok Sabha or Assembly elections, a certain number of forces were already deployed to maintain a normal law and order situation in various parts of the state and to conduct surveillance in sensitive areas. However, with this recent decision, the number of jawans has increased significantly in a single stroke.
Notably, in the initial phase after the elections, around 150 companies of central forces remained stationed in the state. Later, considering the gradual improvement in the situation, about 100 companies of jawans were withdrawn. But recently, keeping in view the situations arising in various regions of the state and the upcoming major festivals, the ministry has decided to bring back an additional 50 companies of forces to wrap the state in a blanket of security.
Experienced jawans from premier security agencies of the country such as the BSF (Border Security Force), CRPF (Central Reserve Police Foundation), and SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal) have been included in these newly deployed central teams. Their primary responsibilities include conducting regular route marches or patrolling in sensitive and vulnerable areas of the state, keeping a strict vigil on suspicious activities, and working in close coordination with the local district police to deal firmly with any kind of unrest or untoward incident.
According to expert circles, the administration has made these advance preparations keeping the upcoming Durga Puja and other festive seasons ahead. Every year, a global festive mood is created in Bengal centered around Durga Puja. Millions of people gather at puja pandals, shopping malls, and various religious places in every district of the state, starting from Kolkata. Controlling this massive surge of people and crowds and ensuring overall public safety is a major challenge for the state administration and the police. Therefore, it is believed that the presence of additional central forces will further strengthen the sense of security and confidence in the minds of the common people.
On the other hand, political sparring and detailed analysis have already begun over the deployment of such a massive number of central forces in the state even though the election phase ended long ago. Although opposition parties have started raising various questions about this, government and administrative circles have repeatedly clarified that there is no political motive behind this decision. The primary goal of the administration is to ensure the safety of the lives and property of the common people, maintain peace and harmony during the festive days, and strictly curb criminal activities.
All in all, it has become evident through the deployment of these 100 companies of central forces that the administration is leaving no stone unturned to gift the residents of the state a seamless, peaceful, and joyful festive season. Along with the local police administration, it remains to be seen how much of a positive impact the alertness of these central jawans will have on the state's law and order in the coming days.
