Kolkata under security blanket for Independence Day
An elaborate security has also been arranged in central Kolkata's Red Road (Indira Gandhi Sarani), where the official function is scheduled to take place.
A senior official of Kolkata Police told IBNS, "We have tightened security in entire Kolkata, specially at Red Road, ahead of Independence Day."
"We have made as many as six police assistance booths, 10 sandbag bunkers, three bulletproof morchas and six watchtowers there," the official said.
"Nearly 2000 policemen, including all our senior officials, three Quick Response Teams (QRT) and 11 High Radio Flying Squads (HRFS) will be on duty tomorrow at and around Red Road to avoid any untoward situation," he added.
The officer also said that combat force of city police would be deployed for immediate intervention, while drone would be used for aerial surveillance.
Ever since the present government was elected to power, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hosts the event at Red Road, instead of the Writers Building, as used by her predecessors.
Meanwhile, a heavy security has also been arranged at Dumdum airport (CCU-Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport) and all important railway stations in and near Kolkata, including Howrah, Sealdah and Kolkata (Chitpur).
Besides Kolkata, security and surveillance have been beefed up in entire West Bengal, specially in Bengal-Assam and Bengal-Bangladesh border zones in north Bengal, according to reports.
(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)
