Hindus from Bangladesh prevented from offering puja

MALDA, 18 Oct: Hindus residing in Bangladesh, including women, were prevented from crossing the border and entering into the Indian Territory for the purpose of offering puja to Goddess Kali due to security reasons, here today. The place where Goddess Kali was being worshipped was located at Mehdipur near Gour along the Indo-Bangladesh border, famous for historical ruins, under the English Bazaar police station. Traditionally, people particularly belonging to the “Ghosh” community used to organise Kali puja, popularly known as Smashan Kali. Earlier, fencing along the border was not restricted and people from both the countries used to offer prayer here.Today, though the Hindus from Bangladesh were prevented from crossing the border, but with the help of the BSF personnel they offered prayers standing along the border fencing. Kali puja ended peacefully here besides stay incidents. There was no restriction to check sound pollution in this district. Youngsters bursted a pretty good number of firecrackers that were beyond the permissible limit. Police and other people were mute spectators in many places. Adequate police personnel were deployed in many places where thousands of people were assembled to visit Kali idol, pandal and the traditional sacrificial offerings. SNS