REPUBLIC DAY

Security beefed up for R-Day in Cooch Behar

 

COOCH BEHAR, Jan. 23: Cooch Behar District Police are not in a mood to take any chance about security of the district during the Republic Day celebrations. To ensure peaceful R-Day celebrations in this district the police are gearing up vigilance along Assam-West Bengal and Indo-Bangladesh borders so that no member of any outlawed outfit can sneak into the district to disrupt the R-Day programmes.

 

Arrangements are being taken to check all vehicles and individuals passing through the Assam-Bengal border, even through the Cooch Behar-Jalpaiguri district border, so that no activist of any militant organisation or illegal arms can enter into the district, said the superintendent of police, Cooch Behar, Mr Devendra Prakash Singh. The ongoing checking system at all entry-points will be geared up on and from 24 January, he added.

 

Mr Singh said they already held discussions with BSF and Army officials over the security measures taken along the international border. Though there is no specific threat yet from any militant outfit there is a general alert because a section of media recently reported about intension of the ULFA and the KLO opposing the observance of R-Day, the SP said.

 

Plainclothes policemen are also being deployed in different areas to keep watch on movements of suspicious persons. Existing check-posts along the inter-state border have also been alerted, Mr Singh added. All police stations in the district have been asked to keep a strict watch on persons with criminal history to ensure the Republic Day celebrations undisturbed and peaceful.

 

Rail and road bridges and important buildings and installations are being watched round-the-clock. The BSF already beefed up vigilance along the 522-kilometre long Indo-Bangladesh border in the district. Specially trained armed combat police forces are also being deployed in different areas of the district.

 

According to the SP the police would keep a strict watch on Republic Day celebrations including flag hoisting, parade and cultural programmes in all the police station areas in the district especially in the bordering areas to maintain peace.