Fortress Kolkata: Section 144, 6,000 cops, 46 barricades to help keep peace – Times of India

KOLKATA/HOWRAH: If you have a train to catch on Tuesday, reach Howrah station well before noon. Else, it will be a long detour via Dunlop-Nivedita Setu-Liluah and Salkia as police will lock down both Howrah and Second Hooghly bridges to foil BJP’s Nabanna march. Even the ferry service will be suspended to prevent protesters from crossing the Hooghly.
Besides the 4,000 men on regular duty in Kolkata, 2,000 cops will man the 23 barricades that will be set up in various points in the city en route to Nabanna. A similar number of barricades will be set up in Howrah.
Many Burrabazar traders who live in Howrah will have to leave for work early to avoid getting caught in confrontations between protesters and cops. Among major trains to depart Howrah between 9.30am and 5pm are Shatabdi Express to NJP at 2.30pm, Rajdhani Express at 4.45pm, Poorva Express at 4.55pm, East-Coast Express at 11.25am and Gitanjali Express at 2.05pm.
Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar will be leading the rally from Howrah Maidan, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari from Santragachhi and BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh will steer the march from College Street. The march to Nabanna will start from these points. Howrah City Police has also denied permission for the march.
Sources in Kolkata Police and Howrah City Police said the two major crossovers – Howrah Bridge and Vidyasagar Setu – are likely to shut down anytime between 8am and 12noon, depending on ground situation. Cops said they will need to set up multiple barricades on bridges and their approaches.
A Kolkata Police traffic advisory on Monday read: “Commuters are requested to avoid Vidyasagar Setu from 8am to 4pm and Howrah Bridge from 12noon to 4pm. Plying of goods vehicles will be restricted from 4am to 8pm.”
Kolkata Police also announced clampdown of Section 144 at College Square, prohibiting the assembly of four or more people in the area.
BJP claimed around 40,000 supporters will arrive in Howrah and Kolkata from different parts of the state in specially hired trains and around 500 buses and trucks. Two trains – Nabanna Express – will be reaching Howrah and Sealdah stations on Tuesday with BJP supporters from north and south Bengal. While some special trains have come under scrutiny at the point of origin in north Bengal’s Alipurduar, trucks will be stopped from plying on Kona Expressway around 6-7am.
The Bengal BJP president apologized to the people for the problems they might face on Tuesday while taking rally route. The BJP brass in Delhi has also provided the logistic support to make the Bengal rally a success ahead of the Bengal rural polls.
All eight ramps onVidyasagar Setu will be barricaded in multiple layers. Special CP Damayanti Sen will marshal troops on the ground and two additional CPs, 18 DCPs and 32 ACPs will be leading specific units across the city.