Kolkata: All Durga Puja organisers in West Bengal will have to take a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) from the police for idol immersion on Muharram day on October 1.
The decision was taken on Friday in a high level security meeting chaired by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee – who holds the home portfolio – with senior bureaucrats.
Officials decided to put the NOC clause after going through the Calcutta High Court’s order which categorically said that the immersion is only allowed if it if ‘found permissible’.
While addressing the media, West Bengal Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharya said, “The puja organisers will have to take permission from the police for immersion (on Muharram day). The permission might be denied or granted based on law and order situation.”
State Director General of Police, Surajit Kar Purakayastha, said, “The local police stations will have the rights to deny permission for immersion to puja organisers. The police will evaluate the situation and then only will allow or disallow idol immersion.”
Sources said that the government has taken the decision after state intelligence agencies received inputs about outsiders who may create communal problems during the Durga Puja.
Calcutta Police Commissioner, Rajeev Kumar said, “We are fully prepared for law and order situation in Kolkata. I would like to appeal all the people not to upload provocative posts on social media.”
Earlier, the state government has decided not challenge a Calcutta high court order, which put on hold the controversial order restricting idol immersion on October 1.
Speaking to News18, Trinamool Congress MP and lawyer, Kalyan Banerjee said, “Yesterday, most of the media reported it wrong the Calcutta High Court revoked the state government decision on banning immersion on Muharram day. Actually, yesterday the court’s verdict went in our favour.”
When asked to elaborate he said, “In the court’s order it is categorically mentioned that the immersion is only allowed if it if found permissible. Now the state government has to decide whether immersion is permissible on Muharram day or not. It is up to the state government and the police department to take the final call depending on the situation whether to allow it or not.”
“We are not going to move Supreme Court because the Calcutta High Court’s order is actually in our favour. Some people are trying to politicize the issue. Let them politicize the issue. The state government is empowered to take the call whether it is conducive to allow immersion on October 1 or not,” he added
Source: News18