Deploy CAPFs on Hanuman Jayanti: HC to Bengal government

The Calcutta High Court has ordered the West Bengal government to request and deploy central paramilitary forces in the state to maintain peace during Thursday's Hanuman Jayanti. Observing "prevention is better than cure", a bench of acting chief justice TS Sivagnanam and justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya directed, "the state police are required to take all steps with the assistance of paramilitary forces or any other central force to prevent any untoward incident so that public are not put to jeopardy."

"For deployment of paramilitary forces, the concerned authority of the central government shall take expeditious steps in deploying such force since the festival is to be celebrated tomorrow," HC said. Hanuman Jayanti should be celebrated "in a peaceful manner without any untoward incident," the court said. It directed the Centre to ensure quick deployment of forces on the state's requisition. "The central government shall take expeditious steps in deploying such force since the festival is to be celebrated tomorrow," the court observed.

Political persons or common people should not make any statement in public or media about the festival. "Considering the sensitivity of the problem, this court directs that no person, either a political personality, or a leader, or common man, shall make any statement in public or to media concerning the festival to be celebrated tomorrow," the bench ordered. "To ensure that public are...reassured that they will be safe in their homes and they will not be affected by any riotous behaviour of miscreants... avoid any breach of peace... the paramilitary force will definitely help the state police in maintaining law and order," the court ordered. In response to HC's query, advocate general Soumendra Nath Mookherjee, representing the state government, submitted the state had imposed 27 conditions on those planning processions.


Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, urged people to observe Hanuman Jayanti peacefully. There was violence in a few places during Ram Navami processions in the state last week. She said festivals were for all and should be celebrated peacefully. "We pray for peace in Bengal, India and global peace," she said. Two more were arrested in connection with last Thursday's Howrah violence. All three were remanded to CID custody.