Calcutta, Sept. 15: Demonstrations have been banned outside a clutch of government offices in Salt Lake’s DF Block but an intriguing omission has drawn more attention than the protected edifices.

One building does not find specific mention on the prohibitory list drawn up by the Bidhannagar police commissionerate: the Central Government Office (CGO) complex that houses the CBI office.

The CBI is probing the Saradha scandal, which was being probed by the commissionerate before the Supreme Court handed over the task to the central agency.

With the CBI turning up the heat, the CGO complex too has drawn more attention than usual. On Thursday, the road that runs alongside the building was blessed with the presence of none other than Bengal law minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, who led a Trinamul protest against the “politically motivated” investigation by the CBI.

On Monday, it was the turn of Trinamul MLA Paresh Pal. He and a group of 50-60 supporters took along with them an effigy of CBI chief Ranjit Sinha.

Under such circumstances, the vicinity of the CGO complex was an ideal candidate for Section 144, which bars the assembly of more than five persons.

But Bidhannagar police chose not to mention the building while listing the areas that have been brought under Section 144 (see visual).

The prohibitory order, issued “in the interest of maintaining peace”, came into force from today and will remain in place till November 13. Such a ban has been in force around Writers’ Buildings for years.

The Salt Lake order does not say people can protest outside the CGO complex but since the police did not take action against the MLA who gathered with more than four supporters near the complex, it appears safe to assume that more protesters will have a free run of the particular stretch.

Although the CGO complex does not figure on the list, the order, signed by police commissioner Rajeev Kumar, has been pasted on its gate, too.

The order says: “… there will be no assembly of public in and around the areas viz. (a) Sech Bhavan to Mayukh Bhavan, (b) Purta Bhavan island to Lalkuthi island for the purpose of demonstration and agitation.”

The use of microphones and possession of arms have also been banned in and around the areas listed.

The CGO complex is located on a road that connects the two parallel stretches mentioned in the commissioner’s order. Commissioner Kumar was not available for comment but another police officer said that since the CGO complex was “in a lane”, no separate mention was needed.

If that is the case, it is not clear why the police did not arrest MLA Pal who had gathered near Mayukh Bhavan earlier with 50-60 supporters.

The police merely stopped the procession just outside the main gate of the CGO complex. Pal and his supporters protested using a microphone and then burnt the effigy.

“The punishment for violating Section 144 may be a term of simple imprisonment for a period that may extend to one month or a fine of up to Rs 200 or both,” said an officer.

But Pal and his supporters had passed through a stretch that is under Section 144. “Bishal anyay koreychhi… bishal anyay… (I have committed a grave mistake… grave mistake), huh!” Pal said in response to a question. “No one is aware that there is this new order about Section 144.”

Law minister Bhattacharya, who led last week’s protest, said: “The CGO complex is not a protected area. So, why should it be under Section 144? We have plans to hold meetings again at the same spot from September 19 to 22.”