Ahead of the Wednesday deadline for Kali Puja immersion, police have reminded puja organisers about the ban on the use of DJs during processions and bursting of crackers.
Crackers were merrily burst well past midnight on Diwali and the police have been accused of trying not to spoil the party.
Kali idol immersions began on Monday with the smaller pujas.
Senior officers said most organisers opted to perform the ritual on Wednesday, the last day according to the deadline laid down by the police this year.
“Kali Puja organisers have been reminded about the ban on the use of DJs and firecrackers so they can pass on the message to those readying for Wednesday’s immersion procession,” said a senior officer at Lalbazar.
“Apart from the officers attached to police stations, even those on traffic duty have been asked to intercept any procession heading for the ghats with DJs and inform the police control room in Lalbazar.”
Additional forces from the headquarters’ reserve have been deployed at all the immersion sites and the popular routes to them.
“All major processions for immersion will be covered by the police,” an officer said.
Kali Puja committees have been asked to inform local police stations about the tentative time for the start of the processions, the routes and the destinations.
“We have informed the police that our immersion will be at Nimtala Ghat. The procession is unlikely to start before midnight,” said Amit Jaiswal of Fatakeshto Kali Puja committee in the north.
“A few of our senior members from the puja committee have been tasked to ensure no crackers are burst. But with several hundreds joining the procession, there may be a few who might burst one or two.”
Senior officers have been asked to keep a watch on the immersions in the fringe areas, including Haridevpur, Parnasree, Behala, Survey Park, Purba Jadavpur and Panchasayar for any violation of the norms.
“At times, some puja committees tend to use huge sound boxes to play loud music on a part of the route and stop before reaching the ghat. That won’t be allowed,” said a senior officer of the south division. “The blaring music has caused discomfort to several senior citizens in the past.”
Days ahead of Kali Puja, Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal had spelt out the dos and don’ts to organisers during a coordination meeting held in Alipore.
Meetings followed this up with organisers at police stations where leaflets with the norms spelt out were distributed, senior officers said.
“We don’t use DJs for processions. There has never been any deviation of the norms laid down by the police to date,” said Susanta Chakraborty, joint secretary of the Amherst Street Sadharan Sri Sri Kali Puja Committee.
