With thousands of Ram Navami rallies scheduled to hit the streets on Sunday, the West Bengal secretariat at Nabanna remains open to monitor the situation. Raj Bhavan too has reactivated the 24×7 ‘peace room’ with ample manpower to take prompt action whenever er necessary.
With over 65 Ram Navami processions, including five major rallies, expected in Kolkata alone, heavy security arrangements have been made with around 14,000 police personnel deployed to keep an eye on rallies across the capital city and Howrah.
According to sources, the Additional Director General (ADG) and IGP (law and order) Jawed Shamim will be monitoring the police control room to ensure that there is no untoward incident and that all the celebrations are carried out peacefully.
Taking to X in the morning, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wished everyone on the occasion while also appealing for peace: “Greetings to all on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami. I appeal to all to maintain and uphold the values of peace, prosperity and development of all. I wish the celebration of the Ram Navami all success, in a peaceful manner.”
Commissioner of Police (CP), Kolkata, Manoj Kumar Verma has urged people to follow the guidelines of the High Court while taking part in the rallies and abide by the rules.
According to sources, the West Bengal Police have deployed 29 IPS officers in 10 sensitive areas, including six police commissionerates and four districts: Howrah, Barrackpore, Chandannagar, Malda, Islampur, Asansol-Durgapur, Siliguri, Howrah Rural, Murshidabad, and Cooch Behar.
Five to six IPS officers have been assigned to supervise the law and order situation in the Howrah district alone. Also, Barrackpore and Chandannagar have been allocated four IPS officers each. Besides, police personnel in plain clothes will be deployed throughout the city. The police have warned of action against organisers if rallies are taken out without permission.
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Sources further said the cops will keep a watch from high-rises, besides deploying surveillance drones and wearing body cameras while escorting rallies. Quick Response Teams (QRTs), Heavy Radio Flying Squads (HRFS), and Police Control Room (PCR) vans will also be stationed at key locations to ensure quick movement if required.
Raj Bhavan, on the other hand, has reactivated the 24×7 ‘peace room’ with ample manpower to take prompt action as necessary.
According to Raj Bhavan they have already advised the State Government deploy the required number of security forces to ensure that Shri Ram Navami is observed peacefully across the State.
In a press statement issued by Raj Bhawan, S. Bandyopadhyay, former IG, SSB, has been designated as the Chief of Task Force for the purpose. A Rapid Action team has also been formed for speedy response. “The Mobile Raj Bhavan will be on the road from the early morning of 06.04.2025. Governor while assuring people of prompt action by the competent authorities, also appeals to everyone to ensure that the joyous occasion is observed with the dignity it deserves,” reads the statement. Raj Bhavan PEACE ROOM No. is 033-22001641 and the Email IDs are — logsabha.rajbhavankolkata@gmail.com/generalcellgs@gmail.com/governor-wb@nic.in.
Meanwhile the Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Saturday held a high level meeting with the SMs and SPs of all districts and took stock of the law and order situation and police arrangements in sensitive areas. The officers have been asked to update the control room in Nabanna on a regular basis .
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