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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Kerala polls: ‘People rejected 10 years of misrule’, says AICC gen secy
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal on Monday said the Congress-led UDF’s sweeping victory in the Kerala Assembly polls was a clear verdict against the “arrogance”, corruption, and nepotism of the CPI(M)-led LDF government headed by CM Pinarayi Vijayan.
Addressing a press conference as counting of votes for all 140 Assembly constituencies neared completion, Venugopal said the outcome reflected public anger against what he termed “10 years of misrule” by the Left government.
He claimed that Vijayan’s victory in his home constituency, Dharmadam, was “only technical”, alleging that the CM trailed the UDF candidate in the initial rounds of counting and failed to secure a majority in his own village.
“He just escaped. He suffered a setback even in his home turf. He was the only person who did not realise the people’s mood in this election,” Venugopal said.
Alleging that the CPI(M) and the LDF had resorted to “communal and opportunistic politics”, he further claimed that the ruling front had entered into a “secret understanding” with the BJP in a bid to retain power for a third consecutive term.
He said that when a government driven by power and arrogance attempts to align with anyone to stay in office, even its own cadre turns against it.
Referring to the results, Venugopal said that while the UDF expected rebel CPI(M) leaders, including K Kunhikrishnan in Payyannur, to impact the vote share, their victories came as a surprise.
Describing the UDF’s performance as a “historic victory”, he attributed it to coordinated teamwork, grassroots mobilisation, and the dedication of party workers, adding that the alliance accepted the mandate “with humility”.
Venugopal also credited Rahul Gandhi’s campaign guarantees, calling them a “trump card” that helped voters focus on real issues and reject what he described as the LDF’s “false narratives”.
He claimed that the Congress witnessed one of its lowest levels of rebellion in this election, which contributed to the alliance’s strong performance.
The senior Congress leader further alleged that the BJP managed to win two seats with the help of the CPI(M), and asserted that forces attempting to divide society on communal lines should “learn a lesson” from Kerala’s verdict.
“This is the real Kerala story,” he said.
On the question of the next Chief Minister, Venugopal said the party leadership would decide at the earliest after due consultations.
The counting of votes began on Monday morning for all 140 Assembly constituencies in Kerala, where the Congress-led UDF secured a decisive majority, defeating the CPI(M)-led LDF, which was seeking an unprecedented third consecutive term in office.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) posts, "Thank you to my brothers and sisters in Keralam for a truly decisive mandate. Congratulations to every UDF leader and worker for a hard-fought, well-run campaign. As I said before, Keralam has the talent, Keralam has the potential… pic.twitter.com/6T4IZbEmp4
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 4, 2026
