Date:23/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/23/stories/2007112362141400.htm

National

Army patrols Kolkata streets

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: The Army continued to patrol some streets in the central parts of the city at different intervals on Thursday, a day after violence had erupted there. Normality was restored in the affected areas and there were no reports of any fresh disturbances.

The situation was “absolutely peaceful” Gautam Mohan Chakravarty, city police commissioner, said after a meeting with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

The Army that had been deployed in the areas affected by the violence has been asked to be on the “stand-by” as a precautionary measure. Jawans patrolled some of the streets along with the city police’s Rapid Action Force in the morning.

The Army went on a flag march in the evening, a Defence spokesman said.

Curfew that had been imposed in five thana areas in central Kolkata at 10 p.m. on Wednesday was lifted at 6 a.m. “There has been no violence since Wednesday evening”, Mr. Chakravarty said.

Most schools in the area were opened. Shops and commercial establishments were back in business. Traffic movement was normal, he added.

Violence had broken out in some areas in the central parts of the city on Wednesday after road-blocks had been set up by supporters of the All-India Minority Forum demanding cancellation of the visa granted to controversial Bangladeshi author, Taslima Nasrin.

The Army had been called in to restore normality in the affected areas. Four columns were deployed while another two were kept in a state of readiness.

Security for Taslima

Mr. Chakravarty, who met leaders of the minority community, said that security that had been provided to the author was adequate.

The State government had strengthened security outside her residence following the attack on her by some members of a religious-political organisation in Hyderabad in August.

Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly, H.A. Halim, said that it was for the Centre to decide on whether to allow Ms. Nasrin to stay in the country. “Whether she stays in the city or not is her and the Government of India’s affair,” he added.