Communal Violence in Kolkata: Sec 144 Imposed, 32 Arrested

Kolkata | Updated: 11 October, 2022 12:18 pm IST

Several houses were set on fire during the violence in Kolkata on Sunday night.

Restrictions on assembly and movement of people have been imposed in parts of Kolkata after communal clashes that left several people injured and many shops & residential properties damaged on Sunday night.

Police have arrested 32 people for their involvement in the violence.

Clashes broke out between people from two communities in southwest Kolkata’s Moninpur and Ekbalpore areas over the issue of displaying communal flags on the occasion of Milad-un-Nabi.

Several vehicles were vandalised and commercial properties were torched in the clashes. Stone pelting was also reported in some localities, as per the police.

Incidentally, Milad-un-Nabi or the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad coincided with the Hindu festival of Kojagori Laxmi Puja this year.

An angry crowd ransacked the Ekbalpore police station, forcing policemen to fire teargas shells to disperse the mob.

Local authorities have imposed restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC in Ekbalpore area for three days until October 12.

To restore peace and normalcy, massive deployment of state police and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been made in several areas of the city.

Meanwhile, Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised the Mamata Banerjee government for failing to maintain the law and order situation in the state.

BJP’s Bengal unit president Sukanta Majumdar was detained by the police on his way to violence-hit Mominpur. He was later released from police custody.

“Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. On Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, the heinous Noakhali riots also happened, and now this is happening in Kolkata… Under Mamata Banerjee as Home Minister, Kolkata has become completely unsafe, communal riots have become common,” tweeted BJP IT Cell incharge Amit Malviya.

Union minister Dr Subhas Sarkar, who hails from West Bengal, wrote a letter to Union home minister Amit Shah over the violence, requesting him to take stringent measures to ensure the safety and security of people in the state.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has met Governor La Ganesan and submitted a memorandum on the violence.