Kolkata’s security has been beefed up ahead of New Year’s Day following the arrest of two Bangladeshi infiltrators in the city’s center, according to Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma. Addressing a news conference, Verma stated that the police were surveilling hotels and guest homes and had urged their management to check the histories of their staff.
“The recent arrests of two Bangladeshi infiltrators were made possible by Kolkata Police’s quick action. “Our men are on the prowl,” he remarked in response to a query. He stated that 4,500 police troops will be deployed in Kolkata to avoid any untoward incidents on New Year’s Eve and Day.
Verma stated that watch towers have been installed to monitor crowds, and traffic police would be alert in preventing inebriated and reckless driving. Concerned about illegal Bangladeshi immigrants obtaining Indian passports using bogus documents, he stated, “We are following the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) guidelines, and detailed discussions have been held with officers from various police stations.”
Officers are visiting residences to verify passport applicants’ paperwork, and the Kolkata Police are working with the passport office to ensure there are no lapses, he added. On Thursday, a Bangladeshi infiltrator was caught on Collins Lane. Since 2023, he has lived in a leased house in the city’s Khidderporeneighborhood.
During his stay here, he obtained a bogus Aadhaar card with a North 24 Parganas address, as well as a PAN card, according to police. Another Bangladeshi was detained on Marquis Street near Park Street after residing in Kolkata for years with forged credentials. Police claimed he worked at a resort. Previously, two members of a Bangladesh-based terrorist cell were apprehended in Murshidabad area.
According to a news report, the Archaeological Survey of India uncovered a Sanskrit inscription on a rock near Gilgit in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It is said to have been written in Brahmi script about the fourth century CE. K Muniratnam Reddy, ASI epigraphy director, informed TOI that the writing reads: “Pushpasingha, for the merit of his guru (name partially lost), installed a Mahesvaralinga.” Shiv Pratap Singh of Rajasthan sent a photograph of the inscription with ASI, which deciphered it.
Image : Business Standard
