Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday directed all her Cabinet colleagues to stay alert during the festival of Holi which coincides with the second Friday prayers of Ramzan, expressing apprehensions that some “miscreants may try to create trouble at some places in the state”.
Security will be heightened across West Bengal on Friday, senior officials said.
During a Cabinet meeting at Nabanna, the state secretariat, she said, “We should remain alert. I have already alerted the administration. Holi will be celebrated tomorrow which is also the first Friday of Ramzan.”
Banerjee also expressed disapproval of the statements of Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir and her Cabinet minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury following Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari’s remark that he would throw Muslim MLAs away after the BJP’s victory in the 2026 assembly elections.
The Cabinet gave approval to the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for digging mineral oil at Ashiknagar of North 24 Parganas district. It also approved to give 2 acres of land to the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at Jalpaiguri. Banerjee also gave permission to open a police outpost at newly built Jagannath Mandir in Digha which will be inaugurated on April 30.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma stressed on the importance of communal harmony while celebrating and observing Holi and Ramzan. Police stations across the city have received orders to exercise extra caution in sensitive areas, which will see deployment of additional forces, he said. “Both Holi and the Friday namaz are important events. So, both communities should celebrate without disrespecting anyone or hurting other’s sentiments. Extra precautions are being taken and detailed arrangements are made. We are also keeping in mind the crisis in Bangladesh and recent events here. The forces are on alert,” Verma said.
A police official said, “Extensive meetings and discussions were held for a month to ensure smooth festival celebrations. Instructions have been issued to all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police emphasising the need for heightened vigilance during the weekend.”
Other measures include thorough route inspections for processions, heightened vigilance at all police stations and increased patrolling, he added.
Authorities are also monitoring social media platforms to prevent the spread of false information and inflammatory posts. There will be strict enforcement against harassment, particularly against women and the elderly, as well as drunk and reckless driving, it is learnt.
“Additional forces will be deployed in areas identified as sensitive, the official added.