The Kolkata Commissioner of Police on Friday, May 24, imposed section 144 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) prohibiting any unlawful assembly of five or more persons for 60 days from May 28 to July 26, 2024 or until further order to prevent violent demonstrations.
According to the order, unlawful assembly of five or more people, unauthorised processions or demonstrations, including those political or religious, are prohibited. The order also bars the use of private drones in a radius of 1 km of government establishments and bans people from carrying sticks, rods, tridents, swords, and firearms in public places.
Kolkata Commissioner of Police imposes section 144 of the IPC prohibiting any unlawful assembly of five or more persons for 60 days from 28.05.2024 to 26.07.2024 or until further order based on information received from credible sources that violent demonstrations are likely to take place resulting in large-scale disturbances of the public tranquillity and breach of the peace, said Kolkata CP Vineet Kumar Goyal.
According to the order released by the Kolkata Police, section 144 will be in force from KC Das Crossing towards Victoria House and its vicinity except Bentic Street under Boubazar Police Station, Hare Street Police Station and Kolkata Traffic Guard Headquarters. No more than five people can gather anywhere in the concerned area.
Police further said there is a possibility of unrest before and after the Lok Sabha elections 2024 in the respective areas. That is why this step is taken as an advance warning. Sources also suggest that some anti-social activities in the concerned areas. Police have also learned that they can create a potentially violent environment. In this case, it is also feared that they can easily 'target' the procession or meeting of the political party. It is known that for that reason, a ban has been issued in the case of procession meetings.
Polling in the ongoing Lok Sabha election for the last phase will be held on June 1, while results will be announced on June 4. There will be no rallies and meetings in the concerned areas for the next two months from May 28, 2024. The police informed that this decision is for the safety of the people.