Buddhadeb appeals for peace and harmony in Bengal

KOLKATA - West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Wednesday appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony following the verdict on the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit Thursday.

After attending a meeting with the senior police officers and government officials on security arrangements, Bhattacharjee said: “I wish that peace and harmony will prevail as it is, even after the outcome of the judgment.”

“People of Bengal had earlier proved that they are peace loving even when people in other parts of the country were engaged in fighting against each other on the Ayodhya issue. I would like to appeal before the good-thinking people to come forward to maintain equanimity and tranquility in the aftermath of the judgment,” the chief minister said.

“We have gathered Intelligence inputs and found that everything is peaceful so far and there is no possibility of any untoward incident. But we have taken all possible measures to nip any eventuality in the bud,” he added.

A alert has been sounded in the city and the districts, he added.

City police Commissioner Goutam Mohan Chakraborty said: “We have identified 18 police station areas as sensitive and special security arrangements have been made. Armed police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel will be deployed in those areas.”

Some areas in Murshidabad, Malda, North Dinajpur, Nadia districts and some parts of Asansol in Burdwan have been identified as sensitive, he said.