West Bengal: Violence erupts during Ram Navami celebration near Kolkata, several vehicles torched

West Bengal: Violence erupts during Ram Navami celebration near Kolkata, several vehicles torched

Similar incidents of violence have also been reported in several parts of Maharashtra

Aritra SinghaUpdated: Thursday, March 30, 2023, 11:03 PM IST
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Howrah: Kazipara area in Howrah district in West Bengal turned into a warzone during Ram Navami rally on Thursday. Several police personnel were deployed at the spot to control the situation after many shops were ransacked and torched along with several vehicles.

According to local police sources, the rally was supposed to take another route but suddenly it entered the Kazipara area that led to clashes between two groups.

“Several shops and vehicles including police vans were damaged and police had to resort to firing of tear gas to disperse the mob. Extra police also had to be deployed to tackle the situation,” said the police sources.

Mamata urges to maintain peace

Slamming the incident, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that though she doesn’t discriminate between people but due to such an incident she will take firm action against the culprits.

“I do not support the riot mongers, and consider them the enemy of the country. They (BJP) have always targeted Howrah, Park Circus and Islampur.

"Everybody must be alert in their localities. I have repeatedly said that I will not block any Ram Navami procession and instructed my party workers as well as the police.

"While one community is celebrating Annapurna Puja, the other is observing fast during Ramzan,” said Mamata.

Taking further potshots at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Chief Minister alleged that the saffron camp had hired goons from outside to orchestrate communal riots in Bengal.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari however, claimed that Mamata Banerjee is the ‘root cause of the violence’.

Reports of violence during Ram Navami celebrations are not new to West Bengal especially in the Howrah region. Earlier in 2022, two incidents of violence during Ram Navami celebration in Bengal's Howrah and Bankura led to injuries to 20 people, including six police personnel.

Reports of violence in Maharashtra

The violence during Ram Ram Navami procession has also been reported in several other parts of the country. Earlier in the day, several police vans along with public vehicles were set on fire during a clash between two groups in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar's [erstwhile Aurangabad] Kiradpura area, the Maharashtra police informed. Similar incidents have also been reported in Maharashtra's Jalgaon.

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