Security tightened at Kolkata landmarks for Republic Day

Landmark city structures like Victoria Memorial, Howrah Bridge, Indian Museum, Kalighat temple as well as government buildings, metro stations and shopping malls were put under a thick security blanket on Monday on the eve of the 67th Republic Day.

Patrolling was intensified, police pickets were set up in the city and the districts, and border areas put under intense security scrutiny, as the West Bengal government geared up to prevent any breach of peace.

A police officer said fool-proof security arrangements were in place, and more police personnel would be on the roads than on other days.

The officer said vital installations like the secretariat, city and state police headquarters, railway and metro stations, and landmarks like the Victoria Memorial, the Kalighat temple, and the Indian Museum were under enhanced security glare.

With a car breaking barricades and mowing down India Air Force officer Abhimanyu Gaud on January 13 while he was supervising parade rehearsals ahead of Republic Day on the Indira Gandhi Sarani (erstwhile Red Road), police have been put on alert to prevent any recurrence of such breach of security.