Security tightened in Malda for Id

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 20: In order to curb violence and maintain peace during the celebration of Id festival today the Malda district administration has set up control room in Kaliachak under the leadership of a magistrate and the additional SP. Experiencing last year's violence at Sujapur in Kaliachak the Malda administration held block level meetings in 15 places of this district. The civic administration held another urgent meeting at Kaliachak block office yesterday where the Malda SDO Ms Arunima De and the additional SP Mr Sujit Sarkar were present with the Id prayer committee members and Imams. Last year administration had faced law and order problem at Sujapur in Kalaichak police station. Some one informed the religious leaders at Sujapur prayer ground that a group of people dressed like BSF had taken away cattle froms their homes. Following announcement hundreds of people turned violent and attacked police when they took initiative to investigate the matter. Police forces were beaten up, heckled and their vehicles were damaged by a group of miscreants at an interior village on this issue last year. At yesterday's meeting, the additional SP Mr Sarkar urged the present religious leaders to maintain peace at the prayer ground and requested them not to consider any political colour of a man who will come to join prayer. It may be noted that there is tension at Sujapur between the two groups of miscreants over the rights of area of operation backed by the two political parties CPI-M and Congress at Sujapur. The Malda SDO, Ms Arunima De told the religious leaders to keep control over the people assembled at the prayer ground tomorrow. She requested the religious leaders not to entertain any rumour or provocation so that any miscreant cannot use microphone of Id prayer where the thousands of people will be present. “If any untoward incident takes place at any prayer ground the administration will first seek clarification from clerics of the prayer ground and take necessary action against them,” she said. To maintain law and order, control room will be opened at Kaliachak from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Kaliachak and other sensitive places today.