Special measures in place for riot-hit Basirhat
KOLKATA: Special measures have been undertaken by authorities of India and Bangladesh for Durga idol immersion at Kalindi and Ichamati rivers along the Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s Basirhat, which witnessed violent communal riots two months back.
Since the puja organisers from both West Bengal and Bangladesh opt for Kalinidi river at Hinganganj and Ichamati river at Taki, both under Basirhat subdivision, the Mamata Banerjee government and BSF sat with the Bangladeshi administration and Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) in this precautionary exercise on Friday and Saturday.
A state home department official said that in case of Kalindi river at Hingalgunj, two separate dates for idol immersion have been allotted for the puja organizers from West Bengal and Bangladesh. “While September 30 has been allotted for organizers from Bangladesh, October 2 has been allotted for those from West Bengal,” he said.
In case of Ichamati, it has been decided that the puja organisers from both West Bengal and Bangladesh will have to complete their immersion process by September 30, which is the last day of Vijaya Dashami.
‘WILL FOIL ANY BID TO DIVIDE PEOPLE’
Chief minister Banerjee on Saturday said that her government would foil any attempt to divide people during the coming religious occasions.
Asking people “not to be misled by any conspiracy made by troublemakers”, she said, “If there are some Facebook posts, some tweets to spread falsehood and misinformation, please be alert and counter them.”