High alert in West Bengal, security heightened on Bangladesh borders

A high alert was sounded across West Bengal on Monday while security along its border with Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries and states has been beefed up in the wake of the Oct 2 blast in Burdwan district..

Investigating agencies are suspecting involvement of terror outfits in the blast that took place inside a house in West Bengal's Khagragarh, killing two suspected militants and injuring another.

The high alert was out following a high-level meeting at Kolkata's state secretariat in which Director General of Police GMP Reddy and Special Inspector General (CID) Damayanti Sen were present.

"All police stations in the state have been asked to maintain a strict vigil against any subversive activity or attempt at sabotage," Reddy told media persons after the meeting.

The Eastern Railway (ER) too has stepped up security at several of its stations, including Burdwan, Howrah and Sealdah railway stations.

"Security and vigils have been stepped up across the ER with special focus on Burdwan, Howrah and Sealdah stations," said ER general manager RK Gupta, who during the day held a meeting with railway and security officials.

The BSF which is guarding the Bangladesh border, however, does not see any additional significance to the state government’s latest decision as the security along West Bengal border is already high because of Durga Puja festivity.

“Every year prior to Durga Puja vigil along the border is generally high. We are already on high alert,” said a BSF official.

West Bengal shares international borders with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan and state boundaries with Assam, Sikkim, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha.

Three people, including two women, have been arrested in this connection. Political parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Communist Party of India-Marxist have demanded the probe be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).