Baby Chakraborty | KalimNews | May 18, 2025 | Kolkata : In a significant move to maintain public order and prevent the misuse of national symbols for inciting unrest, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma has issued strict directives to all police stations under his jurisdiction to intensify surveillance over the sale, purchase, and printing of Pakistani flags in the city. This decision was taken during the monthly crime review meeting held on Saturday, where multiple sensitive issues related to law and order were discussed.
Commissioner Verma has instructed officers to gather detailed intelligence regarding any individual or group involved in the creation, distribution, or procurement of Pakistani flags. He emphasized that such activities, particularly in the current context of heightened Indo-Pakistan tensions, could be manipulated by anti-social elements to provoke communal disharmony. Law enforcement personnel have been tasked with identifying printing presses and vendors that may be approached for manufacturing these flags and to closely track any transactions related to them. Police officers are also required to document the reasons buyers are citing for purchasing these flags and to assess any potential risks arising from such acquisitions.
The urgency of the directive follows recent incidents in which two individuals were arrested in Bangaon for allegedly attempting to instigate communal unrest using the Pakistani flag, shortly after the Pahalgaon attack. These arrests have underscored the potential for symbolic provocations to escalate tensions, prompting a zero-tolerance policy from the police.
Furthermore, the Commissioner addressed concerns surrounding the teachers’ agitation at Vikas Bhavan in Bidhannagar and the ongoing WAQF Act protests. Stations located in areas previously affected by such demonstrations have been placed on high alert, and officials have been asked to intensify information gathering through discreet channels to preempt any disturbances. Instructions were also issued to prevent the WAQF-related protests from being misused as a platform for wider unrest.
This renewed vigilance comes in the wake of earlier complaints by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which reported that e-commerce platforms were selling items representing enemy nations, including the Pakistani flag, purely for profit. In a formal letter to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Consumer Protection Minister Pralhad Joshi, CAIT urged a ban on such sales. The matter drew the attention of the Consumer Protection Ministry, which took steps to investigate the online availability of these products.
In response to the evolving situation, Kolkata Police has made it clear that the presence and misuse of foreign national flags, particularly those of hostile nations, will be dealt with sternly. The force remains committed to preserving public harmony and upholding national dignity, warning that any attempts to disturb peace under the guise of protest or symbolism will not be tolerated.
