The West Bengal government today restricted the movement of mediapersons in the state secretariat Nabanna, which created a strong resentment among the journalists.
The official circular was issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Reserve Force), Kolkata Police, Ashoke Kumar Biswas, earmarking "Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) restricting entry of mediapersons inside Nabanna and their movement from Press Corner to other areas of the secretariat."
According to it, mediapersons would henceforth be restricted to the Press Corner only.
"Movement of mediapersons from the Press Corner to any other part of Nabanna without Visitors' Photo Entry Slip or approval of the competent authority for the purpose of media coverage is literally breach of the SOP," it said.
"Such a movement is also prejudicial to security of the VIPs and official secrecy of various departments of the government," the circular said, hinting that steps could be taken in such cases against the mediapersons concerned.
Mediapersons are allowed entry inside Nabanna only through the north gate, visitors' gate (west) and visitors' gate (south-east) after checking of their Press Accreditation Cards by security persons.
Those taking entry through the visitors' gates are also frisked along with their cameras etc, but those taking entry through the north gate are guided by the police to the visitors' room (west) for the purpose of frisking.
