MALDA, April 23: The Malda police administration is facing a shortage of manpower that may limit their ability to maintain access control and enforce anti-sabotage measures in this district during the visit of VVIPs beginning on 24 April.
The Congress general secretary Mr Rahul Gandhi will be coming to the district tomorrow, while the chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee will visit here on 25 and 27 April. The Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi will address a rally here on 27 April.
“We are facing a manpower crunch at present that may limit security arrangements during the visit of political personalities to the district for election campaigning. We are preparing police arrangements and calculating the shortfall of manpower today,” said Malda SP Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay. “We shall have to report the shortfall of police personnel to the directorate of police seeking additional forces in order to make the necessary arrangements,” he added.
The Malda SP said that 27 April will pose a particular problem, as a large police presence will be required to cover the two political rallies taking place on that day. The chief minister will address a political rally at Pakuahaat on the eastern side of Malda district, while the Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi will be arriving around 11.30 a.m. at Samsi in the northern part of Malda district. Mr Bhattacharjee will be coming from North Dinajpur by road and Mrs Gandhi will be coming from Jangipur by helicopter.
The Special Protection Group has already visited the spot - the Malda District Sports Association (DSA) ground - where the helicopter of Mr Rahul Gandhi will be landing, as well as the playground close to the DSA where Mr Gandhi will address the rally in English Bazaar town.
The SPG is keeping in touch with Malda police in order to make necessary arrangements in English Bazaar town for Mr Gandhi's visit. On 25 April, the chief minister will address two political rallies in this district. Coming by train from Kolkata, the CM will address a rally at Samsi on 25 April afternoon in North Malda and at Brindaboni playground in English Bazaar town in the evening. He will then return from Samsi. “There is a specific guideline set out for security arrangements. The SPG will look into arrangements required for Mrs and Mr Gandhi's visits,” said SP Mr Bandyopadhyay. n SNS
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