Kolkata: A ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ (March to Secretariat) call given by West Bengal students on August 27 in protest of the rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has the state’s security apparatus on edge.
According to sources, almost 2,000 police officers, supervised by 97 senior officers, have been tasked with guaranteeing security in and around the state Secretariat Nabanna alone.
The state’s students have issued a ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ call on social media, inviting everyone to participate without carrying any political party banner. It is similar to the women’s appeal for a midnight march on the eve of Independence Day to seek justice for R.G. Kar’s rape and murder victims.
According to Secretariat sources, five independent layers of command were established to ensure security in and around Nabanna on August 27.
The first tier will have 21 officers in the Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General ranks, followed by 13 Superintendent or Deputy Commissioner-level officers in the second tier.
As many as 15 Additional Superintendent of Police-level officers will be in the third tier, followed by 22 Assistant Commissioner or Deputy Superintendent-level officers in charge of the fourth command.
The fifth tier will have 26 Inspector-level officers.
Senior police officers confirmed this would be the most elaborate security arrangement in and around the state Secretariat for any protest march to Nabanna.
State officials said the heightened security measures are being taken due to the apprehension that some opposition political parties might mingle with the crowd and pose security threats to Nabanna, which is in a VVIP zone.
On Friday, a Calcutta High Court division bench rejected a plea moved by the West Bengal government seeking a ban on the proposed Nabanna Abhijan on August 27.
Even the Supreme Court commented on Wednesday that, while the law would take its course, peaceful protests could not be forcibly suppressed.
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–IANS
