On Wednesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that only followers of ‘Sanatan Dharma’ would be permitted to touch Durga idols during the immersion in the Hooghly River. This statement was made during a review of the immersion arrangements at Babughat in Kolkata, where he was accompanied by Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nand and Kolkata Municipal Commissioner Smita Pandey.

Adhikari emphasised the importance of adhering to religious traditions, stating that he had instructed the police commissioner to identify individuals involved in the idol immersion process. He clarified that the decision was not communal in nature, asserting the need to respect longstanding customs.

He further mentioned that this year’s arrangements had been enhanced, taking into account both security and the religious significance of the immersion rituals. The Chief Minister highlighted that while the event is a festival, it fundamentally remains a religious programme.

Safety Measures and Precautions Implemented

In response to previous complaints, Adhikari indicated that trolleys would replace cranes for transporting the idols. He also noted that the National Disaster Response Force would be involved in the arrangements this year to avert any incidents during the immersion.

Additionally, the Chief Minister stated that the police, disaster management authorities, and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation would have the option to seek assistance from other agencies, including the Kolkata Port Trust, if necessary. He assured that the water would be cleaned following the immersion, which is scheduled to conclude on October 24.

Concerns were raised regarding the safety of individuals using country boats to view the idol immersion in the Ichamati River at Taki, located in North 24 Parganas district. Adhikari mentioned that around 200 country boats were anticipated to transport spectators, and while the administration attempted to discourage this practice, local sentiments had to be considered. He noted that precautions such as life jackets and weight-balancing measures had been implemented, but expressed ongoing concerns due to the nature of the boats.

Enhanced Security Following Recent Incident

To bolster security, the Border Security Force (BSF) has been engaged to assist with the arrangements at Taki. A cabinet minister has been dispatched to the area, and the Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Barasat Range has been assigned oversight responsibilities. Following a tragic stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal on Mahasaptami evening that resulted in 19 fatalities, the administration has intensified security measures.

A senior official reported that a total of 18 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers would supervise the idol immersions in Kolkata and three neighbouring police commissionerates until October 24. Of these, 12 officers have been designated to Kolkata, while six will oversee the immersion processes in Howrah, Barrackpore, and Chandannagar.

In Kolkata, officers Gaurav Sharma, Soma Das Mitra, Rashid Munir Khan, Akash Magharia, Suresh Kumar Chadive, and Dhritiman Sarkar will supervise immersions on October 21 and 23. Praveen Kumar Tripathi, Imran Wahab, Shish Ram Jhajharia, Soumya Roy, Parijat Biswas, and Siddhartha Dhapola will be on duty in the city on October 22 and 24. In Howrah, Indra Chakraborty will oversee immersions on October 21 and 23, while Avaru Ravindranath will supervise the process on October 22 and 24. Palash Chandra Dhali and Dyutiman Bhattacharya have been assigned to Barrackpore, while Abhijit Banerjee and Sandeep Mandal will oversee the immersion process in Chandannagar.

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