Humayun Kabir Babri Masjid Event Triggers Security and Traffic Alert

Only a few hours remain. Humayun Kabir, the recently suspended Trinamool MLA from Bharatpur, will lay the foundation stone of a Babri Masjid in Beldanga on Saturday as per his earlier announcement. Final-stage preparations were underway on Friday. A grand arrangement has been made in the Moradighi area of Beldanga for the mosque’s foundation-stone ceremony. Food arrangements have also been planned for Saturday. For this, seven catering agencies from Murshidabad have been commissioned to prepare food. They are cooking biryani for 40,000 guests. Meanwhile, a large police force has been deployed by the administration to maintain law and order in the area.

Humayun stated that the main programme will begin at 12 noon on Saturday. However, formal activities will start two hours earlier. Islamic religious scholars are arriving not only from various parts of the state but also from across the country to attend the mosque foundation ceremony. Nearly 2,000 volunteers have started working from Friday to ensure the smooth management of the event. According to organisers, between ₹60 to ₹70 lakh is being spent in total, including stage arrangements and food.

For the foundation ceremony, a stage of approximately 150 feet in length and 80 feet in width is being constructed, with seating arrangements for around 400 guests. A close aide of Humayun claimed that nearly ₹10 lakh is being spent solely on the stage. He added, “There will be Shahi Biryani for the guests’ feast. Seven catering companies have been assigned for the food arrangements. Along with 40,000 packets of Shahi Biryani, an additional 20,000 plates are being prepared for local residents. Around ₹30 lakh is being spent on the food.” Nearly 3,000 volunteers under Humayun and his trust will work for the event, among which 2,000 workers began on Friday. Their primary responsibilities include crowd management and ensuring smooth traffic flow on the nearby National Highway.

Organisers have also stated that a number of guests from North Bengal have already started travelling. Humayun claims that approximately 300,000 people will gather on Saturday near the Moradighi crossing, close to National Highway 12 in Beldanga, on a land measuring nearly 25 bighas.

At a glance – Schedule of Humayun’s Mosque Foundation Ceremony:

8:00 AM Saturday: Arrival of special guests. Two Qaris (Islamic scholars) brought from Saudi Arabia will reach the main stage from Kolkata Airport in a special convoy.

10:00 AM: Quran recitation begins from the main stage, marking the inauguration of the programme.

12:00 PM: Main foundation-stone ceremony begins.

2:00 PM: Lunch and end of programme.

By 4:00 PM: The venue will be vacated.

Following the High Court’s directive issued on Friday, the district police administration engaged in detailed discussions with Humayun Kabir regarding the logistics, crowd management, and potential risks associated with Saturday’s large-scale mosque foundation ceremony. Police sources confirmed that approximately 3,000 personnel have been assigned to the event, emphasising the scale of precaution being taken. However, questions are being raised about whether this deployment will be adequate, considering the organisers’ claim that nearly three lakh people are expected to gather. Will the existing force be sufficient to prevent overcrowding, handle potential unrest, or manage medical emergencies that may arise from such a massive congregation?

Concerns have intensified over the possibility of National Highway 12 being severely affected. The highway, regarded as the sole operational lifeline between North and South Bengal, is already burdened with daily commercial and passenger transport. If thousands of vehicles enter Beldanga simultaneously, could this critically obstruct essential supply chains? What contingency plans are in place if an ambulance or emergency vehicle becomes stuck in gridlock? Critics also highlight that weekend market movement may add another layer of pressure on traffic flow.

Authorities insist that the primary aim is to keep traffic uninterrupted while ensuring the event concludes peacefully. A senior police official stated, “Our focus is on ensuring the highway remains open and functional.” Additional forces have reportedly been dispatched from the headquarters, and the event area has been put under the supervision of two police stations—Beldanga and Raninagar—both directed to operate under special duty protocols.

Yet, further counterpoints emerge: If sudden panic or stampede-like situations occur, are local hospitals equipped to respond? If crowd behaviour turns unpredictable, is there coordination with disaster management units? Ultimately, while the administration projects confidence, public safety will depend on execution, not intentions.