Kolkata, 18 March (H.S.): Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, Kolkata Police have intensified measures to maintain strict law and order across the city, with a special focus on identifying and seizing illegal firearms.

Soon after assuming charge, Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nand issued a series of key directives to all police station in-charges and divisional deputy commissioners, stressing the need to identify and confiscate illegal weapons across the city before the elections, a senior police officer said on Wednesday.

Police have been instructed to enhance surveillance, particularly in sensitive areas. Additional vigilance has been ordered in several key regions, including the Bhangar Division.

All police stations have been directed to carry out proactive operations and conduct raids based on intelligence inputs to ensure that anti-social elements do not get any opportunity to stockpile or use illegal weapons.

In this regard, Commissioner Nand has conveyed a clear message that the police administration is not willing to take any risks in view of the elections.

Following instructions from senior officials, teams from all police stations, along with the Detective Department, have already launched special drives in different parts of the city to recover illegal firearms.

Sources said that security checkpoints and vehicle checking drives will be further intensified at major intersections and at key entry and exit points of the city during night hours. Strict surveillance will also be maintained on suspicious vehicles and individuals.

Police officials believe that as the elections draw closer, the possibility of illegal weapons being used by miscreants may increase. These precautionary measures have therefore been initiated to prevent any untoward incidents.

Apart from recovering illegal firearms,a the police are also focusing on identifying potential troublemakers and keeping them under close surveillance.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh