Mamata administration mulls ways to tackle protests during Durga Puja

For the past 40 years, Durga Puja pandals across the city of Kolkata had utilised the platform to highlight cultural heritage, art, and pressing social issues such as environmental protection, human trafficking, and violence against women.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

But contemporary happenings are casting a shadow on the ruling Trinamool Congress and the state administration's hopes of deflecting attention from the gruesome rape and murder of a 31-year-old junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on 9 August.

Though the tenor and intensity of protests in the city against the rape and murder has lessened somewhat with people looking forward to Durga Puja, the Mamata Banerjee government, the police and even the ruling Trinamool Congress are wary of the effect it might have on the celebrations.

On Friday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said: "A tragic incident has happened and we cannot avoid responsibility and it will stay with us. But it should not be used to defame Bengal," while inaugurating a puja in south Kolkata. Without naming the RG Kar incident, the CM-while inaugurating the Hindustan Park Sarbojanin Durga Puja-said: "Many people go around defaming Bengal. Tragic incidents often occur and no one can prevent them. A tragic event remains tragic; can people ever forget it? But it must be remembered, if anyone disrespects the people of Bengal, I will never accept it.

As long as I live, I will not accept it."

The Kolkata Police has received information that die-hard protesters who have been raging at the government and the police over the past two months may be planning pop-up protests and flash mob style demonstrations at some of the most prominent pujas mandaps.

To stymie that, the police presence at the top Durga Pujas has been substantially increased. Along with the uniformed personnel, the police are also deploying a number of plainclothes personnel at the pandals.