Prohibitory Orders Imposed in Bengal’s Hooghly District After Clashes During Ram Navami Rally

GG News Bureau

Kolkata, 3rd April. Prohibitory orders are in effect in West Bengal’s Hooghly district, where two groups clashed during a Ram Navami procession, police said on Monday.

Internet services have also been suspended in some parts of the district till 10 pm on Monday, they said.

Two Ram Navami processions were organised in the Rishra police station area, and the second one came under attack near Wellington Jute Mill More on GT Road around 6.15 pm on Sunday, police said.

A few police personnel were injured in the violence, they said.

BJP vice-president Dilip Ghosh, who was part of the second procession, said that people were walking peacefully to the Jagannath temple when stones were hurled at them.

Pursurah BJP MLA Biman Ghosh suffered injuries, he said.

According to a senior officer of the Chandannagar Police Commissionerate, “The procession was passing through a traditional route when a group started throwing stones at it. We took immediate steps to address the situation.” No person has yet been arrested in connection with the violence, she said.

Security has been increased in the area to prevent further escalation.

“Police are conducting route march, and prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 have been imposed in Rishra wards 1-5 and Serampore’s ward 24. Internet services will remain suspended in parts of Rishra and Serampore till 10 pm on Monday,” she said.

Meanwhile, Governor C V Ananda Bose has stated that those responsible for the violence will be imprisoned.

“The miscreants, the hooligans, and the thugs will be crushed with an iron hand. Mobocracy cannot derail democracy. The state is determined to put an end to this arson and looting,” he said.

Condemning the violence, state Industry Minister Shashi Panja claimed that the BJP was attempting to destroy the state’s peace and tranquillity.

“BJP is known for vandalism of public property, and triggering communal riots all over the country,” she said.

The state government will firmly deal with the situation and take necessary action to punish the perpetrators, Panja said.

Joyprakash Majumdar, spokesperson for the Trinamool Congress, questioned the necessity of organising the processions two days after Ram Navami.

“Why are they so hell-bent on taking out Ram Navami processions during the holy month of Ramzan? The BJP wants to engineer riots in Bengal to create instability for political gains,” he asked.

According to Majumdar, some rally participants were carrying weapons such as swords, which caused people to panic.

On Thursday and Friday, violence erupted in parts of the neighbouring Howrah district, leading to the arrest of 45 people.