Kolkata: A day after the violence at the Rama Navami rally in Howrah, near Kolkata, fresh unrest was reported from the trouble-hit areas in the town on the banks of the river Hooghly, while 36 persons were arrested by the police.
Worried over the situation, Union home minister Amit Shah called up West Bengal governor C.V. Ananda Bose and state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar on Friday afternoon. He asked them about the law and order situation in the state.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also acknowledged security lapses by the police in tackling the situation and assured that firm action would be taken against the errant policemen.
The Trinamul Congress supremo, while reiterating her claim that the BJP was responsible for orchestrating the violence, also said: “There was a police failure. I admit it and will take action on this. The police should have barricaded the entire area. But the cops must have relaxed the measures because they panicked. We will not tolerate this.”
The fresh clashes erupted on Friday afternoon when the police opened the roads at Kazipara in Shibpur, which were closed after the violence on Thursday evening. Like on Thursday, stones and bricks were pelted, this time at the police personnel deployed for patrolling the zone.
The police was seen chasing the troublemakers with lathis. Many TMC leaders also tweeted videos and photos of some youths carrying pistols and alleged that they were in the Rama Navami rally of the BJP a day before.
Diamond Harbour TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee posted: “BJP's DANGABAJI FORMULA at work again: Provoke & instigate communities against each other. Supply weapons to incite violence. Create communal tension deliberately. Reap political benefits. A classic unholy blueprint right out of the @BJP4India playbook!”
On the other hand, VHP’s Indra Deo Dubey, organiser of the Rama Navami rally in Howrah, refuted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s claim that the route was changed deliberately. Showing some documents of permissions, he blamed the police for remaining a mute spectator despite being present at the spot.
During the day the BJP moved the Calcutta High Court for a Central agency probe in the attack on their rally. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari tweeted: “I have filed a PIL today in the Hon’ble High Court at Calcutta pertaining to the incidents of violence & attack on the Ram Navami processions at Howrah & Dalkhola.”
He added: “I have prayed for a NIA probe and immediate deployment of Central forces in such areas for containing the situation and restoration of law and order situation as well as for saving innocent lives. The Hon’ble Acting Chief Justice has been pleased grant leave to file the PIL and directed the same to appear on Monday at top of the list.”
