Kolkata Police to deploy around 2,000 police personnel for Christmas, New Year celebrations
Kolkata (PTI): Kolkata Police has put in place elaborate security arrangements across the city ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations, with special emphasis on Park Street and adjoining areas that are expected to witness heavy footfall, a senior officer said on Wednesday.
Around 2,000 police personnel will be deployed during the festive period, including 10 deputy commissioners, 25 assistant commissioners, 27 inspectors and 250 sub-inspectors, he said.
Additional forces will be stationed in the Park Street-Dharmatala belt to ensure effective crowd control and prevent any untoward incidents, the IPS officer said.
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"Our priority is to ensure that people can celebrate the festival in a safe and orderly manner. Adequate manpower has been deployed, and senior officers will be on the ground to supervise arrangements," the officer told PTI.
He said traffic regulations will be enforced depending on crowd density, with restrictions likely to be imposed in the Park Street area from 4 pm onwards on December 25, 26 and 31.
Security has also been tightened at all major entry points to the city, with intensified naka checking and police patrolling in areas such as Dhola Bridge, Shyambazar, the Howrah-Burrabazar connector, Diamond Harbour Road, Ekbalpur and around Red Road, he said.
"Surveillance has been stepped up at shopping malls, cinema halls, Metro and railway stations, nightclubs and bars," he added.
"Checks are being carried out at strategic locations to prevent any security breach. We are also keeping a close watch on sensitive and high-footfall areas," another senior officer said.
As part of the security plan, 15 watchtowers have been set up at key locations across the city, including five in Park Street area alone.
Quick Response Teams (QRTs) have been kept on standby to deal with emergencies, he said.
Women officers from Kolkata Police's 'Winners' team will be deployed, and plainclothes personnel will be present in crowded areas.
"Any emergency will be dealt with swiftly. Our teams are fully prepared," he added.
Citizens have been advised to contact Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar control room or dial 100 in case of any emergency.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
