Security beefed up at 478 puja venues in Thakurgaon

Special Response Battalion (SRB)-13 has intensified security measures at 478 venues of Durga Puja, largest religious festival of Hindu community, in Thakurgaon to prevent sabotage and other untoward incidents during the autumn festival.

The measures include increased intelligence surveillance and patrols, along with round-the-clock cyber monitoring to prevent the spread of rumours and provocative information on social media.

Major Md Kawsar Badhan, company commander of SRB-13's CPC-1 Dinajpur, disclosed the measures while speaking to reporters after visiting the public Sri Sri Durga Temple in Pharabari of Thakurgaon, on Friday afternoon.

He said a sufficient number of SRB members would be deployed to maintain security and respond to any untoward incidents during the festival. Of the 5,138 puja mandaps in SRB-13's area of responsibility across Rangpur division, 478 are in Thakurgaon, he said.

The battalion will work in coordination with local puja celebration committees, public representatives, the administration and other law enforcement agencies to ensure peaceful celebrations.

Additional security measures will be taken during idol immersion, Major Kawsar Badhan said, warning that legal action would be taken against anyone involved in attacks, vandalism, theft, robbery or sabotage at puja mandaps.

He also urged people not to share unverified information on social media and called for religious harmony and mutual respect. SRB-13 said intensified security operations would continue until 22 October to ensure that Durga Puja is celebrated peacefully and in a festive atmosphere.